Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES.

Emily C Somers, Martha A Ganser, Jeffrey S Warren, Niladri Basu, Lu Wang et al.

Other Environmental health perspectives 2015 72 citations

<\/script>\n

`; }, get iframeSnippet() { const domain = 'immunecited.com'; const params = 'pmid\u003D25665152'; return ``; }, get activeSnippet() { return this.method === 'script' ? this.scriptSnippet : this.iframeSnippet; }, copySnippet() { navigator.clipboard.writeText(this.activeSnippet).then(() => { this.copied = true; setTimeout(() => { this.copied = false; }, 2000); }); } }" @keydown.escape.window="open = false" @click.outside="open = false">

Embed This Widget

Style

Widget powered by . Free, no account required.

Study Design

Study Type: Other
Sample Size: 1352
Population: None

Intervention: Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES. None
Comparator: None
Primary Outcome: None
Effect Direction: Mixed
Risk of Bias: Unclear

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Immune dysregulation associated with mercury has been suggested, although data in the general population are lacking. Chronic exposure to low levels of methylmercury (organic) and inorganic mercury is common, such as through fish consumption and dental amalgams. OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between mercury biomarkers and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity and titer strength. METHODS: Among females 16-49 years of age (n = 1,352) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004, we examined cross-sectional associations between mercury and ANAs (indirect immunofluorescence; cutoff ≥ 1:80). Three biomarkers of mercury exposure were used: hair (available 1999-2000) and total blood (1999-2004) predominantly represented methylmercury, and urine (1999-2002) represented inorganic mercury. Survey statistics were used. Multivariable modeling adjusted for several covariates, including age and omega-3 fatty acids. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of females were ANA positive; 96% of ANA positives had a nuclear speckled staining pattern. Geometric mean (geometric SD) mercury concentrations were 0.22 (0.03) ppm in hair, 0.92 (0.05) μg/L blood, and 0.62 (0.04) μg/L urine. Hair and blood, but not urinary, mercury were associated with ANA positivity (sample sizes 452, 1,352, and 804, respectively), after adjusting for confounders: for hair, odds ratio (OR) = 4.10 (95% CI: 1.66, 10.13); for blood, OR = 2.32 (95% CI: 1.07, 5.03) comparing highest versus lowest quantiles. Magnitudes of association were strongest for high-titer (≥ 1:1,280) ANA: hair, OR = 11.41 (95% CI: 1.60, 81.23); blood, OR = 5.93 (95% CI: 1.57, 22.47). CONCLUSIONS: Methylmercury, at low levels generally considered safe, was associated with subclinical autoimmunity among reproductive-age females. Autoantibodies may predate clinical disease by years; thus, methylmercury exposure may be relevant to future autoimmune disease risk.

TL;DR

Methylmercury, at low levels generally considered safe, was associated with subclinical autoimmunity among reproductive-age females and autoantibodies may predate clinical disease by years; thus, methylmercuries exposure may be relevant to future autoimmune disease risk.

Used In Evidence Reviews

B Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA/DHA) for Autoimmune Conditions

Mercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES.

Embed This Widget

Study Design

Abstract

TL;DR

Used In Evidence Reviews

Similar Papers

Omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development.

Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation.

Role of omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolites in asthma and allergic diseases.

Omega-3 fatty acids and adipose tissue function in obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Increased TGF-beta and decreased oncogene expression by omega-3 fatty acids in the spleen delays onset of autoimmune disease in B/W mice.