Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2025

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Associations between multiple metals exposure and bone mineral density: a population-based study in U.S. children and
Jian Han1, Jiaqing Sun1, Lin Yuan1
1Wenyan Branch of the First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Aim:
This study examined the correlation between multi-metal exposure and bone mineral density (BMD) in U.S. children and adolescents.
Methods:
Data from 1,591 participants (aged 8-19) were analyzed using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016. We measured serum copper (Cu), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and blood lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessed lumbar and total BMD. Advanced statistical approaches including weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were employed to evaluate complex exposure interactions.
Results:
Blood Pb and serum Cu showed inverse associations with, while serum Se positively correlated with lumbar BMD (blood Pb: β: -0.013, serum Cu: β: -0.063, serum Se: 0.035) (all P < 0.05). The WQS index showed a significant association with both lumbar BMD(β = 0.019, P < 0.05) and total BMD (β = 0.019, P < 0.001). WQS analysis identified Cd, Se, and Hg as primary contributors to both lumbar and total BMD variations. BKMR models revealed nonlinear exposure-response relationships and synergistic effects between Cd and Mn.
Conclusion:
These findings highlight the importance of considering mixed metal exposures in bone health assessments, providing crucial insights for developing preventive strategies to protect skeletal development in pediatric populations.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Minerals
Major...

