Work

L-shaped relationship of Vitamin D and blood lead levels among preschool children age 3–6: A cross-sectional study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Background Childhood lead exposure negatively impacts health, and its link to Vitamin D levels in preschoolers is not well understood. Objective To investigate the association between Vitamin D and blood lead levels (BLLs) in Chinese preschool children aged 3-6. Methods A cross-sectional study of 604 children from three Ningbo kindergartens in 2019 measured serum Vitamin D using Chemiluminescence Immunoassay and BLLs via ICP-MS. We used multivariate linear regression, adjusting for factors like age, gender, BMI, hemoglobin, family income, parental occupations, and residential location, and smooth curve fitting to analyze the dose-response relationship. Results The average age was 5.4 ± 0.8 years, with BLLs at 19.7 ± 12.1 µg/L. Each 1 ng/mL increase in Vitamin D correlated with a 0.29 µg/L decrease in BLLs (95% CI: -0.43 to -0.16, p < 0.001). The inverse association was significant in males and suburban residents. A threshold effect was identified at 38.679 ng/mL Vitamin D, beyond which BLLs did not decrease further (β = -0.506, 95% CI: -0.777 to -0.235, p <0.001). Conclusions Higher Vitamin D levels are significantly linked to lower BLLs, especially in males and suburban residents, with a threshold at 38.679 ng/mL. Above this, no further BLL reduction is observed, highlighting the importance of optimal Vitamin D levels in mitigating lead exposure.

Source: Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2024.101864

Authors: Shengying Zhang, Bibo Mao, Fei Xu, Chenbo Zhou, Wenyuan Liu

Institution: Ningbo University

Language: English

Topic: Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,200