title: Impact of cadmium exposure on male sex hormones: a population-based study in China.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure on the levels of serum sex hormones in a Chinese population group. A total of 263 male volunteers were included. Blood samples were collected for the determination of serum testosterone (T), measured by radioimmunoassay, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), both measured by enzyme immunoassays. Urinary and blood Cd were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). We found a dose-response relationship between urinary Cd excretion and the prevalence of abnormally high serum T levels, but, through multiple regression analysis, we could not trace exposure to Cd as a significant determinant of serum T levels. Exposure to Cd also failed to influence the levels of FSH and LH in serum. In contrast, we found that age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking habits are significant determinants of FSH and LH and of T and LH, respectively. We conclude that oral Cd exposure is not a critical determinant of hormone homeostasis in males, but lifestyle and some biological factors, such as age and BMI, are important. The relationship found between urinary Cd and high T levels may be of importance for male reproductive morbidity and should be investigated further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xiangbin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Taiyi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jean P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Buchet
authors.forename: Xuezi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qinghu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Gunnar F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Nordberg
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone