Biological aging mediates the associations between urinary metals and osteoarthritis among U.S. adults

• DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02403-3
• Publication Date: 2022-06-17T00:02:38Z
• Authors: Li Chen; Ying Zhao; Fangqu Liu; Huimin Chen; Tianqi Tan; Ping Yao; Yuhan Tang
• Keywords: Aging; 0303 health sciences; Mediation; R; Environmental Exposure; Nutrition Surveys; Joint exposure; 3. Good health; Biological aging; 03 medical and health sciences; Heavy metals; Lead; Osteoarthritis; Medicine; Humans; Biomarkers; Research Article; Aged; Cadmium

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a worldwide public health concern, mainly afflicting older adults. Although the etiology of OA remains unclear, environmental factors are increasingly considered as non-negligible risk factors. This study aims to evaluate associations urinary metals with and mediated effect biological aging. Methods Nine metal concentrations were detected among 12,584 U.S. adults based on National Health Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), cesium (Cs), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), uranium (Tu). Multivariable logistic regression weighted quantile sum (WQS) used explore single mixed risk, respectively. Furthermore, aging was measured from different perspectives, cell senescence (telomere length) whole-body (phenotypic age age). Mediation analyses conducted investigate effects risk. Results In single-exposure model, Cd, Co, Cs identified be positively associated odds ratios (OR) ranging 1.48 1.64 (all P < 0.05). Mixed-exposure showed consistent (OR 1.23, 95%CI 1.10 1.37) highlighted that responsible for outcomes. Additionally, Cs, Pb, Tl markers, while all markers had significant Further mediation (mainly Cd Cs) parallelly by above proportion 16.89 69.39% Moreover, such also serially through telomere length-biological path length-phenotypic (the mediation: 4.17–11.67%), indicating accelerated finally aggravated progress. Conclusions These findings suggested exposure increased which possibly partly