Relationship between Blood Mercury Concentration and Bone Mineral Density in Korean Men in the 2008–2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

BackgroundThe results of previous studies on the association between blood mercury (Hg) and bone mineral density (BMD) are inconsistent. We therefore used a large-scale nationwide representative sample of Korean men to investigate the relationship between these two parameters.MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2008 to 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to evaluate the relationship between blood Hg and BMD and the prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in 1,190 men over 50 years of age. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Osteopenia and osteoporosis were diagnosed for each body site according to World Health Organization T-score criteria.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, body mass index, caloric energy and calcium intake, vitamin D levels, fish consumption, alcohol consumption, smoking, and exercise, quartiles of blood Hg were positively associated with femur neck T-scores in multiple linear regression analysis (β=0.06, P-value=0.03). Compared with the lowest blood Hg quartile, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis in the second and fourth quartiles were 0.63 (0.41–0.99) and 0.57 (0.36–0.91), respectively, in the femur neck after adjusting for the same co-variables.ConclusionHigh blood Hg levels were associated with reduced odds of decreased femur neck BMD in Korean men. However, subgroup analysis did not show a significant protective effect of blood Hg on osteoporotic fractures. Further research is necessary to clarify the association between blood Hg and BMD.

Occurrence of mercury in the knee joint tissues

“…Comparing to literature data, Zioła-Frankowska et al 27 also did not show statistical significance between the patient's age and mercury concentration in femoral bone from those undergoing hip surgery. 27 In turn, Kim et al 13 noticed higher mercury levels in young men compared to older ones. 13 The same work also analysed the effect of blood mercury on bone density and osteoporosis in Korean men.…”

“…27 In turn, Kim et al 13 noticed higher mercury levels in young men compared to older ones. 13 The same work also analysed the effect of blood mercury on bone density and osteoporosis in Korean men. The authors suggested that people with higher levels of mercury in the blood have a reduced bone density and more frequent osteoporosis.…”

“…27,33 There was no correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked and the THg content, and no statistically significant difference was found between the group of smokers and non-smokers. Referring to the literature references of Zioła-Frankowska et al, 27 Lawado-Garcia et al 14 and Kim et al 13 , the possible dependence between the number of cigarettes smoked and the concentration of THg in the body is indicated. 13,14,27 Summing up the above discussion, mercury concentration tests in bone tissue seem to be appropriate research material.…”

“…This results in the toxicity of these elements in bone tissue and changes such as degenerative processes, osteoporosis and bone mineral changes that can lead to fractures. 13,14 There is a large number of studies on mercury content in bones from excavations from the Middle Ages, when mercury was widely used. [15][16][17][18] Bone tissue, due to its slow metabolism, allows determining the degree of exposure to metals and metal compounds over several years or more.…”

Mercury Toxicity in Public Health

“…Phenylmercury enters in the renal tubes through the contaminated diapers, with the excretion of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in renal cells leading to increase urinary volume and toxicity. Osteoporosis and osteopenia diseases in Korean men due to mercury were studied by Kim et al [48]. The analysis was performed on Korean men's blood samples, and high mercury range in younger people was found.…”