Striking association between urinary cadmium level and albuminuria among Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes

Journal Article · Sat Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2007.10.004· OSTI ID:21077753

Haswell-Elkins, Melissa ^[1]; Satarug, Soisungwan ^[2]; O'Rourke, Peter ^[3]; Moore, Michael; Ng, Jack; McGrath, Victor ^[2]; Walmby, Maria ^[1]

---

1. North Queensland Health Equalities Promotion Unit, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, PO Box 1103, Cairns, Qld 4870 (Australia)
2. National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, Coopers Plains, Qld (Australia)
3. Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Qld (Australia)

Objectives: Indigenous people of the Torres Strait (Australia) have greater potential for cadmium exposure and renal damage than other Australians due to high cadmium in some traditional seafood and a high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and obesity. This study explored associations between albuminuria and an index of cadmium exposure (urinary cadmium excretion) in the presence and absence of Type 2 diabetes. Research design and methods: Two population-based, cross-sectional studies were undertaken in the Torres Strait to obtain data on body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, chronic disease, smoking, urinary cadmium, and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR). Results: Age- and BMI-adjusted urinary cadmium levels were significantly higher (p<0.01) among people with diabetes and albuminuria (n=22, geometric mean (GM) 1.91 {mu}g Cd/g creatinine) compared to those with diabetes and normal ACR (n=21, GM 0.74 {mu}g Cd/g creatinine). Urinary cadmium was also strongly associated (p<0.001) with ACR among people with diabetes in regression models and remained significant after controlling for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, and hypertension (or continuous systolic and diastolic measurements). Conclusions: While the study has methodological limitations and the nature of the association is unclear, the striking dose-dependent links between markers of cadmium exposure and of Type 2 diabetic nephropathy highlight the need for further definitive research on the health effects of cadmium in the presence of diabetes.

• OSTI ID: 21077753
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 106; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ALBUMINS
ALBUMINURIA
AUSTRALIA
BLOOD PRESSURE
CADMIUM
CREATININE
EXCRETION
HYPERTENSION
KIDNEYS
METABOLIC DISEASES
SEAFOOD
TOXINS