Mercury Exposure and Associations with Hyperlipidemia and Elevated Liver Enzymes: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

<jats:p>Mercury (Hg) has obesogenic properties. However, the associated health outcomes of population-level mercury exposure were unclear. This study investigated the relationships between blood mercury levels and obesity-related outcomes such as hyperlipidemia and elevated liver enzymes. Using the second cycle of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (n = 6454), we performed logistic regression to examine the effects of Hg on hyperlipidemia and elevated liver enzymes. The blood mercury levels were significantly higher in the hyperlipidemia group (n = 3699, male: 4.03 μg/L, female: 2.83 μg/L) compared to the non-hyperlipidemia group (n = 2755, male: 3.48 μg/L, female: 2.69 μg/L), and high blood mercury levels were associated with an 11% higher risk of hyperlipidemia. The elevated liver enzymes group had higher mean blood mercury levels (n = 1189, male: 4.38 μg/L, female: 3.25 μg/L) than the normal group (n = 5265, male: 3.64 μg/L, female: 2.70 μg/L), and elevated blood mercury was associated with a 35% higher risk of elevated liver enzymes. Moreover, the effect was constant after adjusting for personal medications. These results indicate that mercury exposure is significantly associated with hyperlipidemia and elevated liver enzymes.</jats:p>

Association between Heavy Metal Exposure and Dyslipidemia among Korean Adults: From the Korean National Environmental Health Survey, 2015–2017

“…Another study found that TC and LDL-C levels were 1.5–2.0 and 1.6–2.4 times higher ( p < 0.001) in the occupational Pb exposure group (27.00–48.90 μg/dL for BPb) than in the control group (15.78 μg/dL for BPb), whereas TG and HDL-C levels did not show a significant association ( p < 0.05) [ 49 ]. Furthermore, a study using the KoNEHS observed that BHg concentrations are significantly higher in the hyperlipidemia group (4.03 and 2.83 μg/L for male and female) than that in the non-hyperlipidemia group (3.48 and 2.69 μg/L of male and female), and individuals with higher BHg concentrations have a 11% higher risk of hyperlipidemia [ 50 ]. Significant increases in TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels are reported with increasing BHg concentrations in Korean adults, based on the KoNEHS [ 40 , 51 ].…”

Blood mercury and liver enzymes: A pan-India retrospective correlation study

“…Many studies have focused on assessing the impact of Hg exposure on health, but the outcome continues to be unclear. Investigations around effect of Hg exposure on obesity-related outcomes, elevated liver enzymes, cardiometabolic risk are documented (Lee et al, 2020; Poursafa et al, 2014). Epidemiological studies focused on assessing the impact of Hg exposure on liver function have shown inconsistent results, including one from the Minamata area, polluted with methylmercury.…”

Editorial to Special Issue Toxic Metals, Chronic Diseases and Related Cancers

“…In this Special Issue, entitled “Toxic Metals, Chronic Diseases and Related Cancers”, there are 19 published manuscripts, including reports of environmental exposure monitoring [ 1 , 2 ] and food safety surveillance [ 3 , 4 ]; reviews focusing on health risks of chronic exposure to cadmium and lead [ 5 ], experimental studies on the toxicity of cadmium, lead or mercury in gonads [ 6 ], and evidence that cadmium exposure may be one of the environmental factors contributing to hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and diabetes [ 7 ]; a mathematical model of the oral glucose tolerance test [ 8 ]; epidemiological studies examining health impacts of cadmium, lead, and mercury [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]; and reports concerning the immunotoxicity of high exposure to lead [ 16 ], the effects of cadmium on protein reabsorption by kidney tubular epithelial cells [ 17 ], the cytotoxicity of hexavalent chromium [ 18 ], and the carcinogenicity of aluminum in vivo [ 19 ].…”

“…In a study of 311 children (151 girls and 160 boys), aged 3–7 years, from a coastal area of Thailand, Yimthiang et al report a 2-fold increase in the risk of stunted growth among children who had high blood lead levels (≥5 µg/dL) [ 14 ]. Milk consumption reduced the risk of abnormal growth by 43%.…”

“…Lee et al assessed the potential health effect of mercury intake among 6454 participants in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey [ 14 ]. They found higher means for blood mercury in women than men (3.70 vs. 2.63 μg/L), and noted that high blood mercury was associated, respectively, with 10.5% and 34.5% increases in risk of hyperlipidemia and liver injury (elevated plasma levels of liver enzymes).…”