ArticleEnvironmental research2021
Association between cumulative childhood blood lead exposure and hepatic steatosis in young Mexican adults.
Article in Environmental research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Heavy Metal Exposure: a Systematic Review.Biological trace element research · 2023Pooled it
- Potential Antidote Against Lead Toxicity-A Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Cadmium exposure during adolescence and young adulthood induces signatures of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Association Between Chromium and Lead Exposure and Liver Injury Biomarkers Among Adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Environmental health insights · 2025Article
- Childhood lead exposure and sleep problems in adolescents: a longitudinal cohort study.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2024Article
- Patterns of global burden of 13 diseases attributable to lead exposure, 1990-2019.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Sex, Nutrition, and NAFLD: Relevance of Environmental Pollution.Nutrients · 2023Review
- Early childhood lead exposure and adolescent heart rate variability: A longitudinal cohort study.Environmental research · 2022Article
- Differential fat accumulation in early adulthood according to adolescent-BMI and heavy metal exposure.New directions for child and adolescent development · 2022Article
- Lead exposure as a causative factor for metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and a lead exposure related nomogram for MAFLD prevalence.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 8 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundExposure to environmental toxicants may play a role in the pathogenesis of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Cumulative exposure to lead (Pb) has chronic and permanent effects on liver function. Pediatric populations are vulnerable to the toxic effects of Pb, even at low exposure levels. The purpose of the study was to estimate the association between cumulative Pb exposure during childhood and hepatic steatosis biomarkers in young Mexican adults.
methodsA subsample of 93 participants from the ELEMENT cohort were included in this study. Childhood blood samples were collected annually from ages 1-4 years and were used to calculate the Cumulative Childhood Blood Lead Levels (CCBLL). Hepatic steatosis during adulthood was defined as an excessive accumulation of hepatic triglycerides (>5%) determined using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Liver enzymes were also measured at this time, and elevated liver enzyme levels were defined as ALT (≥30 IU/L), AST (≥30 IU/L), and GGT (≥40 IU/L). Adjusted linear regression models were fit to examine the association between CCBLL (quartiles) and the hepatic steatosis in young adulthood.
resultsIn adulthood, the mean age was 21.4 years, 55% were male. The overall prevalence of hepatic steatosis by MRI was 19%. Elevate levels of the enzymes ALT, AST, and GGT were present in 25%, 15%, and 17% of the sample, respectively. We found a positive association between the highest quartile of CCBLL with the steatosis biomarkers of hepatic triglycerides (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 6.07, 95% CI: 1.91-10.21), elevated ALT (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 14.5, 95% CI: 1.39-27.61) and elevated AST (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 7.23, 95% CI: 0.64-13.82). No significant associations were found with GGT.
conclusionsChronic Pb exposure during early childhood is associated with a higher levels of hepatic steatosis biomarkers and hepatocellular injury in young adulthood. More actions should be taken to eliminate sources of Pb during the first years of life.
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