Relation of nutrition to bone lead and blood lead levels in middle-aged to elderly men: The normative aging study
Journal
American Journal of Epidemiology
Journal Volume
147
Journal Issue
12
Pages
1162-1174
Date Issued
1998
Author(s)
Abstract
The relations of nutritional factors to lead accumulation in the body were examined cross-sectionally among 747 men aged 49-93 years (mean 67 years) in the Normative Aging Study in 1991-1995. Means (standard deviations) for blood lead, tibia lead, and patella lead were 6.2 (4.1) microg/dl, 21.9 (13.3) microg/g, and 32.0 (19.5) microg/g, respectively. In multiple regression models adjusting for age, education level, smoking, and alcohol consumption, men in the lowest quintile of total dietary intake levels of vitamin D (including vitamin supplements) ( or =589 i.u./day). Higher calcium intake was associated with lower bone lead levels, but this relation became insignificant when adjustment was made for vitamin D. The authors also observed inverse associations of blood lead levels with total dietary intake of vitamin C and iron. When analyses were controlled for patella lead, age, smoking, and alcohol consumption, men in the lowest vitamin C intake quintile ( or =339 mg/day), while men in the lowest iron intake quintile ( or =23.5 mg/day). This study suggests that low dietary intake of vitamin D may increase lead accumulation in bones, while lower dietary intake of vitamin C and iron may increase lead levels in the blood.
SDGs
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Type
journal article