Long-term effects of PM2.5 constituents on metabolic syndrome and mediation effects of serum uric acid

Changwei Cai; Yang Chen; Chuanteng Feng; Ying Shao; Tingting Ye; Bin Yu; Peng Jia; Shujuan Yang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122979

Long-term effects of PM_2.5 constituents on metabolic syndrome and mediation effects of serum uric acid

Environ Pollut. 2024 Jan 15:341:122979. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122979. Epub 2023 Nov 19.

Authors

Changwei Cai¹, Yang Chen², Chuanteng Feng³, Ying Shao⁴, Tingting Ye¹, Bin Yu⁵, Peng Jia⁶, Shujuan Yang⁷

Affiliations

¹ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Yunnan Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Kunming, China; School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
³ Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Yunnan Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Kunming, China.
⁵ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu, China.
⁶ School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Luojia Laboratory, Wuhan, China; School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
⁷ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Health Management Center, Clinical Medical College & Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: rekiny@126.com.

PMID: 37989407
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122979

Abstract

Exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5) was associated with the risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the general population, but the contributions of individual PM_2.5 constituents to this association and the potential pathway between PM_2.5 constituents and MetS risk are not well elaborated. This study aimed to investigate associations between PM_2.5 constituents and MetS in general populations, relative importance of PM_2.5 constituents to and mediation effects of serum uric acid (SUA) on those associations. The 48,148 participants from a provincially representative cohort established in southwest China were included. The 3-year average concentrations of PM_2.5 and its constituents (nitrate [NO₃^-], sulfate [SO₄^2-], ammonium [NH₄⁺], organic matter [OM], and black carbon [BC]) were estimated using a series of machine-learning models. Multivariate logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression were used to estimate effects of independent PM_2.5 constituents on MetS and their contributions to the joint effect. Mediation analysis examined the potential mediation effects of SUA on the associations between PM_2.5 constituents and MetS. Each interquartile range (IQR) increase in the concentration of PM_2.5 constituents was all positively associated with the increased MetS odds, including SO₄^2- (OR = 1.15 [1.11, 1.19]]), NO₃^- (OR = 1.12 [1.08, 1.16]), NH₄⁺ (OR = 1.13 [1.09, 1.17]), OM (OR = 1.09 [1.06, 1.13]), and BC (OR = 1.09 [1.06, 1.13]). Their joint associations on MetS were mainly attributed to SO₄^2- (weight=46.1%) and NH₄⁺ (44.0%). The associations of PM_2.5 constituents with abnormal MetS components were mainly attributed to NH₄⁺ for elevated BP (51.6%) and reduced HDL-C (97.0%), SO₄^2- for elevated FG (68.9%), NO₃- for elevated TG (51.0%), and OM for elevated WC (63.0%). Percentages mediated by SUA for the associations of PM_2.5, SO₄^2-, NO₃^-, and BC with MetS were 13.6%, 13.1%, 10.6%, and 11.1%, respectively. Long-term exposure to PM_2.5 constituents, mainly NH₄⁺ and SO₄^2-, was positively associated with MetS odds, partially mediated by SUA.

Keywords: Mediation analysis; Metabolic syndrome; PM(2.5) constituents; Serum uric acid.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Air Pollution* / analysis
China / epidemiology
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Humans
Metabolic Syndrome* / epidemiology
Nitrates / analysis
Particulate Matter / analysis
Particulate Matter / toxicity
Uric Acid / analysis

Substances

Uric Acid
Particulate Matter
Nitrates
Air Pollutants