title: Carotid intima-media thickness and plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine in Mexican children exposed to inorganic arsenic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arsenic exposure is a risk factor for atherosclerosis in adults, but there is little information on arsenic and early risk biomarkers for atherosclerosis in children. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an indicator of subclinical atherosclerotic burden that has been associated with plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate associations of arsenic exposure with cIMT, ADMA, and endothelial adhesion molecules [soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1); soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1)] in children who had been exposed to environmental inorganic arsenic (iAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in 199 children 3-14 years of age who were residents of Zimapan, México. We evaluated cIMT using ultrasonography, and plasma lipid profiles by standard methods. We analyzed ADMA, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 by ELISA, and measured the concentrations of total speciated arsenic (tAs) in urine using hydride generation cryotrapping atomic absorption spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the multiple linear regression model for cIMT, tAs categories were positively associated with cIMT increase. The estimated cIMT diameter was greater in 35- to 70-ng/mL and > 70-ng/mL groups (0.035 mm and 0.058 mm per 1-ng/mL increase in urinary tAs, respectively), compared with the < 35-ng/mL group. In addition to tAs level, plasma ADMA was a significant predictor of cIMT. In the adjusted regression model, cIMT, percent iAs, and plasma sVCAM-1 were significant predictors of ADMA levels (e.g., 0.419-μmol/L increase in ADMA per 1-mm increase in cIMT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arsenic exposure and plasma ADMA levels were positively associated with cIMT in a population of Mexican children with environmental arsenic exposure through drinking water.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, México D.F., México.
authors.forename: Citlalli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osorio-Yáñez
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ayllon-Vergara
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Madrid
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arreola-Mendoza
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández-Castellanos
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barrera-Hernández
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Vizcaya-Ruiz
authors.forename: Luz M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Del Razo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000187:drug effects*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D001151:Arsenic