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Cadmium Exposure in Young Adulthood Is Associated with Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Midlife

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Abstract

Background

Studies have suggested that cadmium (Cd) may be involved in the etiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but available data in human is sparse.

Aims

We aimed to examine Cd exposure in young adulthood in relation to prevalent NAFLD in midlife among American adults.

Methods

This study included 2446 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study with toenail Cd measurement at exam year 2 (baseline) and computed tomography quantification of liver fat at exam year 25. Toenail Cd concentrations were considered as a reliable marker of long-term exposure. NAFLD was defined if liver attenuation < 51 Hounsfield units after excluding other possible causes of liver fat. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio of NAFLD by Cd exposure.

Results

Median toenail Cd concentration was 8.2 ppb (inter-quartile range 4.3–18.6 ppb). After 23 years from baseline, 580 participants with prevalent NAFLD (24% prevalence) in midlife were identified. Compared with individuals in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile of toenail Cd had a significantly higher odds of NAFLD (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.99, P for trend: 0.04) after adjustment for demographics, socioeconomics, major lifestyle factors, and baseline levels of body mass index, lipids, and fasting insulin. The association was not significantly modified by race, sex, BMI, or smoking status at baseline.

Conclusions

Toenail Cd concentration was associated with a higher odds of prevalent NAFLD23 years later in life in this cohort of US general population.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the investigators and the staff of the CARDIA study for valuable contributions.

Funding

This study was partially supported by grants from the NIH (R01HL081572 and R01DK116603). Dr. Van Wagner is support by the NHBLI (K23HL136891). The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA) is supported by a few contracts from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), including HHSN268201800003I, HHSN268201800004I, HHSN268201800005I, HHSN268201800006I and HHSN268201800007I.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 Jianshe East Road, Erqi, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China

    Yuexia Li, Wenzhi Guo & Shuijun Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

    Yuexia Li, Wenzhi Guo & Shuijun Zhang

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physician and Surgeons, Columbia University, 622 W. 168th, Room 16-62, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Cheng Chen, Liping Lu & Ka Kahe

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Cheng Chen, Liping Lu & Ka Kahe

  5. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lisa B. VanWagner

  6. Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lisa B. VanWagner

  7. Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    James M. Shikany

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  1. Yuexia Li
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  2. Cheng Chen
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  3. Liping Lu
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Correspondence to Shuijun Zhang.

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Li, Y., Chen, C., Lu, L. et al. Cadmium Exposure in Young Adulthood Is Associated with Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Midlife. Dig Dis Sci 67, 689–696 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-021-06869-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-021-06869-8

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