Park Kyong, Seo Eunmin
Department of Food and Nutrition, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongbuk, Korea.
Nutrients. 2016 Jul 12;8(7):424. doi: 10.3390/nu8070424.
Although Asian populations consume relatively large amounts of fish and seafood and have a high prevalence of metabolic diseases, few studies have investigated the association between chronic mercury exposure and metabolic syndrome and its effect modification by selenium.
We analyzed baseline data from the Trace Element Study of Korean Adults in the Yeungnam area. Participants included 232 men and 269 women, aged 35 years or older, who had complete data regarding demographic, lifestyle, diet, toenail mercury and selenium levels, and health. Toenail mercury and selenium concentrations were measured using instrumental neutron-activation analysis. The metabolic biomarker levels were obtained through biannual medical checkups.
Higher toenail mercury levels were associated with habitual consumption of whale and shark meats, older age, obesity, smoking, alcohol drinking, and higher household income. Multivariable analysis showed a positive association between toenail mercury exposure and metabolic syndrome. In addition, this association was significantly stronger at lower selenium levels and was weaker at higher selenium levels.
The possible harmful effects of mercury on metabolic syndrome may be attenuated by high levels of selenium. Future studies are needed to suggest optimal dietary guidelines regarding fish and selenium intakes, particularly for Asians with high levels of fish intake.
尽管亚洲人群摄入相对大量的鱼类和海鲜，且代谢性疾病患病率较高，但很少有研究调查慢性汞暴露与代谢综合征之间的关联以及硒对其的效应修正作用。
我们分析了岭南地区韩国成年人微量元素研究的基线数据。参与者包括232名男性和269名女性，年龄在35岁及以上，他们拥有关于人口统计学、生活方式、饮食、趾甲汞和硒水平以及健康状况的完整数据。使用仪器中子活化分析法测量趾甲汞和硒浓度。代谢生物标志物水平通过每半年一次的体检获得。
较高的趾甲汞水平与经常食用鲸鱼肉和鲨鱼肉、年龄较大、肥胖、吸烟、饮酒以及较高的家庭收入相关。多变量分析显示趾甲汞暴露与代谢综合征之间存在正相关。此外，在较低硒水平时这种关联显著更强，而在较高硒水平时则较弱。
汞对代谢综合征的潜在有害影响可能会被高水平的硒所减弱。未来需要开展研究以提出关于鱼类和硒摄入量的最佳饮食指南，特别是对于鱼类摄入量较高的亚洲人。
