Evidence mapPaperPMID 41535962Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of medical research2026

Association between multiple urinary metals and visceral obesity: a large cross-sectional study in South China.

Mei Yao, Shun Liu, Xiaogang Wang, Yu Yang, Guandou Yuan, Songqing He, Qiongguang Huang, Xiaoyun Zeng

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Article in European journal of medical research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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8 authors.

Mei Yao *Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
Shun Liu *Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
Xiaogang Wang *Institute of Hospital Management and Medical Prevention Collaborative Innovation, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
Yu YangDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
Guandou YuanDivision of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
Songqing HeDivision of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
Qiongguang HuangDivision of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China. huangqiongguang@stu.gxmu.edu.cn.
Xiaoyun ZengDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China. zengxiaoyun@gxmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2017YFC0907103the 111 Project in China D17011the National Key Research and Development Program 2022YFE0131600the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi 2022GXNSFAA035642the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi 2025GXNSFBA069041the Youth Science Foundation of Guangxi Medical University GXMUYSF202539
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe majority of studies have predominantly used body mass index or waist circumference as measures to establish a link between urinary metals and obesity, leading to inconsistent outcomes. Visceral fat index was a simple, practical and non-invasive physical examination indicator for measuring visceral obesity, and the association between urinary metal and VFI is unclear.

methodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional design and based on the baseline data of the Prospective Cohort Study of Chronic Diseases in Ethnic Minority Natural Population in Guangxi from May 2019 to December 2019. Information on demographics, health status, lifestyle, and additional variables was obtained through structured face-to-face interviews. The study employed multiple statistical models, including lasso regression, logistic regression, restricted cubic spline, quantile g-computation, weighted quantile sum, and Bayesian kernel machine regression.

resultsThis study encompassed a total of 5794 participants, comprising 2641 males and 3153 females. Among the participants, 1423 (24.6%) were individuals with visceral obesity. The natural log-transformed urinary concentrations of metals are denoted as "ln" followed by the element symbol (e.g., lnSb for antimony, lnZn for zinc, lnRb for rubidium). LnSb (OR = 1.260, 95% CI: 1.149-1.383, P < 0.001) and lnZn (OR = 1.343, 95% CI: 1.134-1.591, P < 0.001) showed a positive association with visceral obesity. In contrast, lnRb (OR = 0.741, 95% CI: 0.624-0.881, P < 0.001) exhibited a negative association with this condition. A dose-response relationship was observed for lnSb (P-overall < 0.001, P-nonlinear = 0.244), lnZn (P-overall = 0.048, P-nonlinear = 0.592), lnRb (P-overall = 0.035, P-nonlinear = 0.482), and lnMg (female: P-overall = 0.005, P-nonlinear = 0.004; 60-74 years: P-overall = 0.089, P-nonlinear = 0.028) in relation to visceral obesity. The mixed effects on visceral obesity revealed significant differences in both positive (P = 0.003) and negative (P = 0.043) directions. In addition, an interaction effect was observed between lnSb (lnRb or lnZn) and the other six metals.

conclusionUrinary Sb and Zn as potential risk factors, and Rb as a potential protective factor, for visceral obesity, demonstrating significant overall and interactive effects arising from metal co-exposure. These findings underscored the critical role of environmental metal exposure, especially from mixtures, in the prevention and management of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Indexed as

Multiple exposureUrinary metalsVFIVisceral obesity

Identifiers

PMID41535962
PMCPMC12888415

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