Lead and homocysteine are both associated with cardiovascular disease and cognitive dysfunction. We evaluated the relations among blood lead, tibia lead, and homocysteine levels by cross-sectional analysis of data among subjects in the Baltimore Memory Study, a longitudinal study of 1,140 randomly selected residents in Baltimore, Maryland, who were 50–70 years of age. Tibia lead was measured by 109Cd K-shell X-ray fluorescence.
Indistinguishable hematologic abnormalities are seen in most patients with cobalamin (Cbl, vitamin B12) or folate deficiency. Approximately one third of Cbl-deficient patients develop a wide variety of non-focal neuropsychiatric abnormalities that are not seen in folate deficiency. Serum levels of homocysteine are elevated to a similar degree in Cbl-deficient patients with and without neuropsychiatric abnormalities,
Background The association between homocysteine and isolated systolic hypertension in older adults was evaluated using a case-control design, and the relationship between homocysteine and clinical or subclinical atherosclerosis was explored.
Methods and Results Cases were 179 adults >=60 years with a systolic blood pressure of >=160 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg.
Homocysteine levels are associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in observational studies. Lead and cadmium are risk factors for PAD that affect thiol metabolism, and they may partly explain the association of homocysteine with PAD. To evaluate the roles of lead and cadmium exposure in confounding the association between homocysteine and PAD, the authors performed a cross-sectional study among 4,447 persons aged ≥40 years who participated in the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Background Lead exposure has been associated with higher blood pressure, hypertension, electrocardiogram abnormalities, and increased mortality from circulatory causes.
Objective We assessed the association between bone lead—a more accurate biomarker of chronic lead exposure than blood lead—and risk for future ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Methods In a prospective cohort study (VA Normative Aging Study),
Background— Lead and cadmium exposure may promote atherosclerosis, although the cardiovascular effects of chronic low-dose exposure are largely unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between blood levels of lead and cadmium and peripheral arterial disease.
Methods and Results— We analyzed data from 2125 participants who were ≥40 years of age in the 1999 to 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that exposure to exogenous estrogens may be associated with endometriosis and uterine myomas. We sought to investigate the association between heavy metals which have been shown to be hormonally active and these disorders using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.
METHODS: Women aged 20–49 years who had data on metals and the outcomes of interest,
Exposure to heavy metals promotes oxidative stress and damage to cellular components, and may accelerate age-related disease and disability. Physical mobility is a validated biomarker of age-related disability and is predictive of hospitalization and mortality. Our study examined associations between selected heavy metals and impaired lower limb mobility in a representative older human population. Data for 1615 adults aged ≥60 yr from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2004 were used to identify associations between urinary concentrations of 10 metals with self-reported and measured significant walking impairments.
Context Lead, mercury, and arsenic intoxication have been associated with the use of Ayurvedic herbal medicine product (HMPs).
Objectives To determine the prevalence and concentration of heavy metals in Ayurvedic HMPs manufactured in South Asia and sold in Boston-area stores and to compare estimated daily metal ingestion with regulatory standards.
Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder that is usually accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species or by impaired antioxidant defenses. Importantly, oxidative stress is particularly relevant to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a naturally occurring dithiol compound, has long been known as an essential cofactor for mitochondrial bioenergetic enzymes. LA is a very important micronutrient with diverse pharmacologic and antioxidant properties.
