Association between multiple metals exposure and sleep disorders in a Chinese population: A mixture-based approach

Lu Yufu; Liu Qiumei; Zhang Tiantian; Cai Jiansheng; Tang Xu; Wei Yanfei; Mo Xiaoting; Huang Shenxiang; Lin Yinxia; Li You; Luo Tingyu; Qin Jian; Zhang Zhiyong

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140213

Association between multiple metals exposure and sleep disorders in a Chinese population: A mixture-based approach

Chemosphere. 2023 Dec:343:140213. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140213. Epub 2023 Sep 22.

Authors

Lu Yufu¹, Liu Qiumei¹, Zhang Tiantian¹, Cai Jiansheng², Tang Xu¹, Wei Yanfei¹, Mo Xiaoting¹, Huang Shenxiang¹, Lin Yinxia¹, Li You², Luo Tingyu², Qin Jian³, Zhang Zhiyong⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong Road No.22, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
² School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, 20 Lequn Road, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
³ School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong Road No.22, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. Electronic address: qinjian@gxmu.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong Road No.22, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China; School of Public Health, Guilin Medical University, 20 Lequn Road, Guilin, Guangxi, China. Electronic address: rpazz@163.com.

PMID: 37742758
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140213

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies have suggested a possible association between metals and sleep disorders. This study aimed to explore the association between Zn, Cu, Se, Mg and Ca and sleep disorders in single and multi-metal co-exposure models.

Methods: Logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline model (RCS), Quantile g computation (Q-gcomp), Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to investigate the association between metal levels and sleep disorders.

Results: Logistic regression showed that in the total population, the second, third, and fourth quartile Zn concentration exhibited a lower risk of sleep disorders compared with the first quartile, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.783, 0.711, and 0.704, respectively. Compared with Zn/Cu and Zn/Se in the first quartile, the third and fourth quartiles showed a lower risk of sleep disorders. In the 30-59 years group, the risk of sleep disorders was 0.699 times greater for the fourth quartile Mg concentration than that for the first quartile. The risk of sleep disorders in Mg/Ca concentration in the third quartile was 0.737 times higher than in the first quartile. Q-gcomp, WQS, and BKMR model analysis showed the negative overall effect of mixtures of the five metals on sleep disorders, with Zn being the largest contributor.

Conclusion: Our study showed that plasma Zn, Mg, Zn/Cu, Zn/Se, and Mg/Ca reduced the risk of sleep disorders, and the combined effect of multiple metals was negatively associated with the risk of sleep disorders, with Zn being the largest contributor to this relationship.

Keywords: Bayesian kernel machine regression; Essential metals; Multiple mixture models; Sleep disorders.