Relationship between blood lead and nutritional factors in preschool children: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between selected nutritional factors and blood lead levels of preschool children.


METHODS
Data on 296 children, aged 9 to 72 months, who were cared for at the University of Maryland at Baltimore Pediatric Ambulatory Center were examined in this cross-sectional study. Nutritional status, socioeconomic aspects, medical history, and potential sources of lead exposure were assessed. Blood samples were evaluated for levels of blood lead, serum iron (ferritin), free erythrocyte photoporphyrin, calcium, and hematocrit.


RESULTS
The average blood lead level was 11.4 micrograms/dL. Multicollinearity of nutritional factors was addressed using regression techniques. After adjusting for confounders, significant positive associations with blood lead were found for total caloric intake (P = .01) and dietary fat (P = .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that even when behavioral and environmental exposures to lead were statistically controlled, total caloric intake and dietary fat each had an independent and significant association with the level of blood lead.
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, USA.
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SR
Lucas
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Sexton
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Langenberg
D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002149:Energy Intake; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007854:Lead