Association between urinary rare earth element levels and metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study in the minority population of Guangxi in China

Objective To investigate the association between rare earth elements (REEs) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods We used a cross-sectional design based on the baseline data of the Prospective Cohort Study of Chronic Diseases in Ethnic Minority Natural Population in Guangxi in China. Logistic regression and BKMR models were employed to evaluate the association between REEs and risk of MetS. Results Although REEs were not significantly associated with MetS, certain elements such as La, Pr, and Nd were negatively associated with abdominal obesity, while Ce, Pr, Nd, and Dy were positively associated with hypertension. BKMR models suggested a U-shaped relationship between mixed REEs and MetS, with varying effects on abdominal obesity and high blood pressure. Conclusions This study suggest that REEs exposure may be associated with a reduced risk of abdominal obesity while an increased risk of high blood pressure.