Introduction and Objective: Heavy metal exposure is associated with obesity in adults and older children. The potential impact of heavy metal exposure on obesity in younger children is poorly understood. We aimed to determine associations between urinary heavy metal concentrations and obesity in younger children. Methods: Urinary metal concentrations of nine heavy metals (lead, cadmium, barium, tungsten, cesium, antimony, cobalt, mercury and molybdenum) measured by inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry and body mass index (BMI) in children age 2-11 were obtained from NHANES 2011-2020. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between metal concentrations and BMI z-scores, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity and NHANES cycle. Results: We assessed 2904 children age 2-11 (49% girls, 72% non-white). Barium (Ba) showed a significant positive association with BMI z-score. Cadmium (Cd) showed a significant negative association with BMI z-score (Table). With Ba, a stronger positive effect was observed in girls (pinteraction0.01), and with Cd, a stronger negative effect was observed in boys (pinteraction0.01). Conclusion: Urinary Ba and Cd concentrations were significantly associated with BMI in early childhood, with associations in opposite directions and notable sex differences. These findings suggest that heavy metal exposures may influence early childhood adiposity through potentially metal-specific biological pathways. Disclosure E. Chen: None. M. Tosur: None. L. Abushamat: Advisory Panel; Ended; New Amsterdam. Consultant; Ended; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, PeerDirect, Opus Medical. Research Support; Current; American Diabetes Association, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Funding American Diabetes Association (4-23-CVD1-01), NIH NIDDK(1K23DK140641)
CHEN et al. (Fri,) studied this question.