HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lee, M.-G. Articles by Song, W. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lee, M.-G. Articles by Song, W. O.

Determinants of the Blood Lead Level of US Women of Reproductive Age

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Address reprint requests to: Won O. Song, PhD, MPH, RD, Professor and Associate Dean, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1224. E-mail: Song{at}msu.edu

Objectives: Blood lead concentration of an infant is largely affected by maternal blood lead recycling. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and nutritional determinants for blood lead levels (BLLs) of women of reproductive age in the United States.

Methods: Subjects (n = 4,394) were women (20–49 years old) included in the most recent complete National Health and Nutritional Survey (NHANES III). Certain sociodemographic, lifestyle and nutritional determinants for BLL were identified.

Results: The BLL of reproductive age women was 1.78 µg/dL geometric mean, The BLL was inversely associated with poverty income ratio and education level, hematocrit, intake of thiamine, and serum levels of folate, and positively associated with ethnicity (Black, Hispanic), living in urban areas or the Northeast region, age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, serum protoporphyrin, and intake of pyridoxine, iron, and folate. Subjects in the lowest decile for serum ascorbic acid had significantly higher BLLs than those in the 2nd through 8th deciles.

Conclusion: Infants born to women who smoke, drink and maintain poor nutritional status for selected nutrients are at a greater risk of lead toxicity than those born to other women. Nutritional manipulation of thiamine, ascorbic acid and folate may impact BLL in women.

Key words: lead, children, women, nutrition, smoking, alcohol, vitamin

Abbreviations: NHANES III = Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey • BLL = blood lead level • PIR = poverty income ratio • ANCOVA = analyses of covariance • DRIs = dietary reference intakes • NCHS = National Center for Health Statistics • CI = confidence interval

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Rischitelli, P. Nygren, C. Bougatsos, M. Freeman, and M. Helfand Screening for Elevated Lead Levels in Childhood and Pregnancy: An Updated Summary of Evidence for the US Preventive Services Task Force Pediatrics, December 1, 2006; 118(6): e1867 - e1895. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]