Article
Examining Links Between Diet and Lead Exposure in Young Children: 2009-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Academic Pediatrics
(2020)
Abstract
Objective: Despite recommendations to consume iron-, calcium-, and vitamin C-rich foods for managing blood lead levels (BLLs), limited evidence exists on how specific foods affect children's BLLs. Using data from 12-36 month-olds (n=992) from the 2009-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we assessed how foods rich in these nutrients associate with BLLs, and with potential inadvertent exposures to cadmium and mercury. Methods: Food intake was assessed from one 24-hour dietary recall. Foods were categorized into 10 energy-adjusted groups, with intake categorized as none (reference) and tertiles. BLLs were natural log-transformed. Linear regressions tested associations between food groups and BLLs. Logistic regressions were conducted for blood cadmium and mercury. Results: Median (5%, 95% range) BLLs were 1.01 (0.39, 3.21) µg/dL. Majority of food groups (7 of 10) showed little association with BLLs. Compared to no intake, cereal [tertile 3: β (95% CI) = -0.22 (-0.41, -0.02)] and milk (Ptrend<0.002; non-significant tertiles) consumption was associated with lower BLLs. Meat [tertile 2: 0.23 (0.01, 0.45)] and fruit drink [tertile 2: 0.20 (0.03, 0.38); tertile 3: 0.25 (0.02, 0.49)] intake was associated with higher BLLs. Fruit drink consumption was associated with lower likelihood of having blood cadmium >0.11 µg/dL [tertile 3 OR: 0.05 (0.01, 0.36)]. No associations were observed with blood mercury. Conclusions: Among young children, consumption of iron-, calcium-, and vitamin C-rich foods showed weak or no association with BLLs. Few associations were observed for blood cadmium or mercury. Food-based approaches to BLL management may have limited utility when exposure is low.
Keywords
- Children,
- Blood lead levels,
- Infants,
- Cadmium,
- Mercury
Disciplines
Publication Date
2020
DOI
10.1016/j.acap.2020.06.009
Publisher Statement
Version posted on the author's site is the journal pre-proof, with no embargo required. License CC BY-NC-ND. Link to publisher version https://www.academicpedsjnl.net/article/S1876-2859(20)30249-7/fulltext
Citation Information
Desai, G., Anzman-Frasca, S., Vernarelli, J. A., Ravenscroft, J., Yang, J., Burstein, G., & Kordas, K. (2020). Examining links between diet and lead exposure in young children: 2009-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [published online ahead of print Jun 17]. Academic Pediatrics, S1876-2859(20)30249-7. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2020.06.009
Creative Commons license
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-NC-ND International License.