title: Association between measurements of thyroid function and the acrylamide metabolite N-Acetyl-S-(propionamide)-cysteine in adolescents and young adults.
abstract: Acrylamide is present in mainstream cigarette smoke and in some foods prepared at high temperatures. Animal studies have shown that acrylamide exposure alters thyroid function; however, it is not known if this also occurs in humans. The study examined the association between the urinary levels of the acrylamide metabolite and serum thyroid measures in adolescents and young adults. We recruited 793 subjects (mean age, 21.3 years; range, 12-30 years) from a population-based sample of Taiwanese adolescents and young adults to determine if the urinary levels of the acrylamide metabolite N-acetyl-S-(propionamide)-cysteine (AAMA) and the 6 serum thyroid measures are associated. The mean (SD) AAMA were 76.54 (76.42) µg/L. Linear regression analyzes showed a 1-unit increase in natural log AAMA was significantly associated with a decrease in serum free thyroxine (T4) (ng/dL) (β=-0.041, SE=0.013, p=0.001) after controlling for covariates. Subpopulation analyzes showed AAMA and free T4 were significantly associated with females, age 20-30 years, non-current smokers, and non-alcohol consumers. In conclusion, higher urinary AAMA concentrations were associated with decreased levels of free T4 in this cohort. Further studies are warranted to determine if there is a causal relationship between acrylamide exposure and thyroid function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lian-Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City 237, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Liong
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fung-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10002, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan. Electronic address: pchen@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Pau-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Electronic address: tachensu@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ta-Chen
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C085597:N-acetyl-S-(propionamide)cysteine; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Acrylamide; Free thyroxine; N-Acetyl-S-(propionamide)-cysteine (AAMA); Thyroid function