TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-Level Lead Exposure, Blood Pressure, and Calcium Metabolism
AU - Morris, Cynthia
AU - McCarron, David A.
AU - Bennett, William M.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR. Supported by the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board as administered by the National Dairy Council. Address reprint requests to Cynthia Morris, PhD, MPH, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201. © 1990 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. 0272-6386/90/1506-0008$3.00/0
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - Previous research has shown an association of both blood lead and dietary calcium with blood pressure (BP) in populations. We examined the relationship between blood levels and BP, the effect of calcium supplementation on blood lead, and whether the reported anti hypertensive effect of calcium supplementation was related to any observed change in blood lead. BP was measured on four occasions, 1 week apart in 251 subjects. During this period, blood lead and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EPP) levels were measured, as well as markers of calcium metabolism. In an intervention period, 142 patients were assigned to receive 1 g of calcium per day as calcium carbonate for 12 weeks; at the end of this period, blood lead and EPP were remeasured. In males, blood lead levels were significantly, directly related to BP; a 0.48 μmol/dL (10 μg/dL) increase in blood lead concentration was associated with a 5 mm Hg increase in systolic pressure. There was no relationship of blood lead levels to BP in females. EPP was unrelated to BP. Similarly, there was no relationship of blood lead levels to markers of calcium metabolism. With calcium supplementation, blood lead and EPP levels did not change significantly. We conclude that it is unlikely that modification of lead status explains any effects of calcium supplementation on BP.
AB - Previous research has shown an association of both blood lead and dietary calcium with blood pressure (BP) in populations. We examined the relationship between blood levels and BP, the effect of calcium supplementation on blood lead, and whether the reported anti hypertensive effect of calcium supplementation was related to any observed change in blood lead. BP was measured on four occasions, 1 week apart in 251 subjects. During this period, blood lead and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EPP) levels were measured, as well as markers of calcium metabolism. In an intervention period, 142 patients were assigned to receive 1 g of calcium per day as calcium carbonate for 12 weeks; at the end of this period, blood lead and EPP were remeasured. In males, blood lead levels were significantly, directly related to BP; a 0.48 μmol/dL (10 μg/dL) increase in blood lead concentration was associated with a 5 mm Hg increase in systolic pressure. There was no relationship of blood lead levels to BP in females. EPP was unrelated to BP. Similarly, there was no relationship of blood lead levels to markers of calcium metabolism. With calcium supplementation, blood lead and EPP levels did not change significantly. We conclude that it is unlikely that modification of lead status explains any effects of calcium supplementation on BP.
KW - Lead
KW - blood pressure
KW - calcium supplementation
KW - epidemiology
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U2 - 10.1016/S0272-6386(12)80528-2
DO - 10.1016/S0272-6386(12)80528-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 2368697
AN - SCOPUS:0025284271
SN - 0272-6386
VL - 15
SP - 568
EP - 574
JO - American Journal of Kidney Diseases
JF - American Journal of Kidney Diseases
IS - 6
ER -