Relationship of Ascorbic Acid to Blood Lead Levels
CONTEXT Some animal studies suggest that orally administered ascorbic acid may chelate lead and decrease the risk of the toxic effects of lead. However, results from several small studies in humans have yielded inconclusive evidence of a beneficial effect of ascorbic acid on lead toxicity. OBJECTIVE...
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Published in | JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 281; no. 24; pp. 2289 - 2293 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Chicago, IL
American Medical Association
23.06.1999
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | CONTEXT Some animal studies suggest that orally administered
ascorbic acid may chelate lead and decrease the risk of the toxic
effects of lead. However, results from several small studies in humans
have yielded inconclusive evidence of a beneficial effect of ascorbic
acid on lead toxicity. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between serum ascorbic acid
levels and prevalence of elevated blood lead levels. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional analysis of a
probability sample of the US population enrolled in the Third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 (4213 youths aged
6-16 years and 15,365 adults aged ≥17 years) without a history
of lead poisoning. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Elevated and log blood lead levels by serum
ascorbic acid level. RESULTS A total of 22 youths (0.5%) and 57 adults (0.4%) had
elevated blood lead levels (defined as ≥0.72 µmol/L [15 µg/dL])
and ≥0.97 µmol/L [20 µg/dL], respectively). After controlling
for the effects of age, race, sex, income level, and dietary energy,
fat, calcium, iron, and zinc intake, youths in the highest serum
ascorbic acid tertile had an 89% decreased prevalence of elevated
blood lead levels compared with youths in the lowest serum ascorbic
acid tertile (odds ratio, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.35;
P for trend=.002). Adults in the highest 2
serum ascorbic acid tertiles had a 65% to 68% decreased prevalence of
elevated blood lead levels compared with adults in the lowest serum
ascorbic acid tertile (P for trend=.03). As a
continuous predictor, serum ascorbic acid level was independently
associated with decreased log blood lead levels among adults
(P<.001), but not among youths
(P=.14). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that high serum levels of ascorbic
acid are independently associated with a decreased prevalence of
elevated blood lead levels. If these associations are related causally,
ascorbic acid intake may have public health implications for control of
lead toxicity. |
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ISSN: | 0098-7484 1538-3598 |
DOI: | 10.1001/jama.281.24.2289 |