Toenail Chromium Concentration and Metabolic Syndrome among Korean Adults

Jakyung Son, J. Steven Morris and Kyong Park
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Jakyung Son: Department of Food and Nutrition, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea
J. Steven Morris: Department of Research and Education, University of Missouri Research Reactor, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Kyong Park: Department of Food and Nutrition, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: Although in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that chromium has protective effects against metabolic diseases, few studies have examined this association in humans. The present study examined chronic chromium (Cr) exposure among Koreans based on the measurement of toenail Cr concentrations, and analyzed the associations between toenail Cr concentrations and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from the prospective cohort study in the Yeungnam area of South Korea that included 232 men and 268 women. Toenail Cr concentration was quantified by neutron activation analysis, and metabolic biomarker levels were obtained through medical examinations. The odd ratios (OR) of prevalent MetS and its components in correlation with Cr concentrations were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. After multiple confounding variables were adjusted for, participants with higher concentrations of Cr had a prevalence rate of MetS similar to those with lower concentrations (OR, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–5.23). Our results do not support an association between long-term exposure to Cr and a lower prevalence of MetS in Koreans, whose Cr concentrations are relatively low compared to those of populations in Europe and the United States.

Keywords: chromium; metabolic syndrome X; nails; biomarkers; Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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