Eom SY, Yim DH, Huang M, Park CH, Kim GB, Yu SD, Choi BS, Park JD, Kim YD, Kim H. Copper-zinc imbalance induces
kidney tubule damage and oxidative stress in a population exposed to chronic environmental cadmium.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2020;
93:337-344. [PMID:
31732794 PMCID:
PMC7078142 DOI:
10.1007/s00420-019-01490-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the effect of environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure and essential metal imbalance on renal tubular damage and oxidative stress in 979 adults living in a Cd-polluted area near an abandoned copper (Cu) refinery.
METHODS
We analyzed urinary Cd concentrations, renal tubular damage and oxidative stress markers, such as beta-2 microglobulin (β2-MG) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity and urine malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum copper-to-zinc ratio (CZR) was used as an essential metal imbalance indicator. We divided the subjects into two Cd exposure groups based on the reference level of urinary Cd for renal dysfunction (2 μg/g creatinine).
RESULTS
The geometric mean concentration of urinary Cd in all subjects was 2.25 μg/g creatinine. In both low and high Cd exposure groups, urinary Cd levels were positively correlated with urinary NAG activity, but not with serum CZR. After multivariate adjustment, serum CZR was strongly associated with urinary β2-MG levels in the low Cd exposure group (β = 1.360, P = 0.019) and was significantly associated with urinary MDA levels, regardless of Cd exposure level. In addition, the risk of renal tubular damage was significantly associated with urinary Cd level, particularly in the lowest or highest CZR tertile groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Essential metal imbalance may be a determinant of oxidative stress and renal tubular damage in a chronically Cd-exposed population, and proper zinc supplementation will be effective in preventing adverse health effects due to Cd exposure.
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