title: The metabolism of carbohydrates and lipid peroxidation in lead-exposed workers.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to estimate the effect of occupational exposure to lead on the blood concentration of glucose and several enzymes involved in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. To estimate the degree of lipid peroxidation, the concentrations of conjugated dienes were determined. The examined group included 145 healthy male employees of lead-zinc works. Taking into account the mean blood lead levels, the examined group was divided into two subgroups. The control group was composed of 36 healthy male administrative workers. The markers of lead exposure were significantly elevated in both subgroups when compared with the controls. There were no significant changes in fasting glucose concentration and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase activity in the study population. The concentration of conjugated dienes was significantly higher in both subgroups, whereas the activity of malate dehydrogenase was significantly higher only in the group with higher exposure. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase were significantly decreased in the examined subgroups. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased significantly in the group with higher exposure and could be the cause of the elevated concentrations of conjugated dienes. It is possible to conclude that lead interferes with carbohydrate metabolism, but compensatory mechanisms seem to be efficient, as glucose homeostasis in lead-exposed workers was not disturbed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland olakasp@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobrakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostałowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zalejska-Fiolka
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birkner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010427:Pentose Phosphate Pathway / Q000187:drug effects; D011044:Poland; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D007854:Lead; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase
keywords: Lead poisoning; carbohydrate metabolism; conjugated dienes; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; glycolysis; l-lactate dehydrogenase