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Association between urinary lead and bone health in a general population from Taiwan

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 26, pages 481–487 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Lead accumulates in adult bones for many decades; previous studies have shown lead’s detrimental effects on osteoblast and osteoclast activity in association with bone remodeling. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones resulting in low bone mass that induces fragile bones and hence susceptibility of fracture. We estimated the association between urinary lead (U-Pb) levels and bone health in adults participating in the third Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) from 2005 to 2008. A total of 398 participants were divided into normal (T-score>−1), osteopenic (T-score between −1 and −2.5), or osteoporotic (T-score<−2.5) groups according to the results of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. Heavy metals were measured in urine specimens using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (OR=1.08; 95% CI=1.05–1.10), former smokers (OR=2.95; 95% CI=1.22–7.11) and higher U-Pb levels than upper tertile (OR=2.30; 95% CI=1.19–4.48) were associated with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Furthermore, age (OR=1.06; 95% CI=1.02–1.10) and higher U-Pb levels (OR=2.81; 95% CI=1.13–6.97) were significantly associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis in women. These results suggest that adults, particularly in women, with higher U-Pb levels may have increased odds of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

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Acknowledgements

Data analyzed in this paper were collected by the research project “Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan” (NAHSIT) sponsored by the Department of Health in Taiwan (DOH94-fs-6-4). This research project was carried out by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Academia Sinica, directed by Dr Wen-Harn Pan. The Office of Nutrition Survey and The Center for Survey Research of Academia Sinica are responsible for data distribution. The assistance provided by the Institutes and aforementioned individuals is greatly appreciated. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors.

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  1. Ying-Chih Tseng, Saou-Hsing Liou and Shu-Li Wang: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Tsung-Lin Tsai & Shu-Li Wang

  2. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    Wen-Harn Pan

  3. Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan

    Yu-Teh Chung, Saou-Hsing Liou & Shu-Li Wang

  4. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Nursing, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Trong-Neng Wu

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Ying-Chih Tseng

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  1. Tsung-Lin Tsai
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Correspondence to Shu-Li Wang.

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Tsai, TL., Pan, WH., Chung, YT. et al. Association between urinary lead and bone health in a general population from Taiwan. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 26, 481–487 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2015.30

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