Liu Zhou, Zhang Liang, Wu Yanrui, Tan Zongbiao, Li Guang, Li Zhenwen, Zhan Liying, Dong Weiguo
Department of Intensive Care Unit, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2025 Jan 7;17(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s13098-024-01567-7.
The myriad implications of heavy metal pollution on human health have garnered substantial attention within the academic domain. Nevertheless, a notable research gap persists, as there is currently insufficient direct investigation elucidating the intricate interplay between nickel exposure and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
The data utilized in this study was sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated utilizing controlled attenuation parameters (CAP), and nickel exposure level was reflected by urinary nickel concentration. To analyze the association between nickel exposure and MASLD, three multiple logistic regression models with weights were developed. Furthermore, a mediation analysis was performed to examine insulin resistance's potential mediating role.
There were a total of 1,187 participants in the study, of which 548 (46.17%) had MASLD. MASLD individuals had a significantly higher urinary nickel concentration than non-MASLD individuals (P = 0.008). After accounting for demographic factors, biochemical indicators, and metabolic conditions, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MASLD were 2.10 (1.09-4.05) per onefold increase in urinary nickel concentration and 2.61 (1.22-5.55) for the highest tertile versus the lowest tertile. Insulin resistance was found to mediate approximately 73.69% of the total association between nickel exposure and MASLD (P = 0.004).
Nickel exposure was independently associated with the prevalence of MASLD. Excessive exposure to nickel may promote the occurrence of MASLD by enhancing insulin resistance.
重金属污染对人类健康的众多影响已在学术领域引起了广泛关注。然而，目前仍存在显著的研究空白，因为目前尚无足够的直接调查来阐明镍暴露与代谢功能障碍相关脂肪性肝病（MASLD）风险之间的复杂相互作用。
本研究使用的数据来自2017 - 2020年国家健康与营养检查调查。利用受控衰减参数（CAP）评估肝脂肪变性，尿镍浓度反映镍暴露水平。为了分析镍暴露与MASLD之间的关联，建立了三个加权多元逻辑回归模型。此外，进行了中介分析以检验胰岛素抵抗的潜在中介作用。
该研究共有1187名参与者，其中548名（46.17%）患有MASLD。MASLD患者的尿镍浓度显著高于非MASLD患者（P = 0.008）。在考虑人口统计学因素、生化指标和代谢状况后，尿镍浓度每增加一倍，MASLD的优势比（OR）和95%置信区间（CI）为2.10（1.09 - 4.05），最高三分位数与最低三分位数相比为2.61（1.22 - 5.55）。发现胰岛素抵抗介导了镍暴露与MASLD之间总关联的约73.69%（P = 0.004）。
镍暴露与MASLD的患病率独立相关。过度暴露于镍可能通过增强胰岛素抵抗促进MASLD的发生。
