Association of cigarette smoking with albuminuria in the United States: the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: The association of cigarette smoking with albuminuria has been reported but not examined in a representative U.S. population. No study has evaluated the association between serum cotinine (a biological marker for tobacco exposure) and kidney damage. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 15,719 adult participants of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess the association between smoking exposure and kidney damage. Smoking was assessed by self-reported lifetime cigarette use and serum cotinine. Kidney damage was assessed by urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), with albuminuria defined as ACR of > or =17 microg/mg in males and > or =25 microg/mg in females. RESULTS: The analysis included 13,121 with normal albumin (mean ACR 6.3 microg/mg) and 2,414 with albuminuria (mean ACR 143 microg/mg); hypertension was prevalent in 27% and 59%, respectively. Former smoking was similar between groups (21%), while current smoking was more common in persons with albuminuria (26%) compared to normal ACR (21%). Adjusted for other risk factors, among hypertensives, current smokers were 1.85 (95% CI: 1.29, 2.64) times more likely to have albuminuria than never smokers. Current smokers with a > or =40 pack-year history were at highest risk for albuminuria. Among non-smoking hypertensives, those exposed to passive smoke (highest versus lowest quartile of serum cotinine) were 1.41 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.90) times more likely to have albuminuria. Former smoking with cessation of > or =1 year among hypertensives was not associated with albuminuria. Among non-hypertensives, smoking and albuminuria were not consistently associated. CONCLUSION: Current and passive smoking, but not former smoking, were associated with the presence of albuminuria in the general U.S. population with hypertension, indicating a benefit to the kidney from smoking cessation.     

Islet cell autoimmunity in a triethnic adult population of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Markers of humoral islet cell autoimmunity, such as autoantibodies (AAs) against the 65-kDa isoform of GAD (GAD65), serve as determinants of risk for autoimmune diabetes. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes in U.S. racial and ethnic minority adult populations, little is known concerning the prevalence of GAD65 AA in these groups. We estimated the prevalence of GAD65 AA in 1,064 diabetic and 1,036 nondiabetic participants who were 40-90 years of age from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), which provides a representative ethnic sample of the U.S. diabetic population. The prevalence of GAD65 AA was higher in diabetic participants compared with nondiabetic participants in non-Hispanic whites (n = 920; 6.3% vs. 2.0%; P = 0.001) and non-Hispanic blacks (n = 534; 3.7% vs. 1.3%; P = 0.08) but not in Mexican Americans (n = 646; 1.2% vs. 2.6%; P = 0.18). Among diabetic non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, being GAD65 AA positive was associated with lower BMI and C-peptide (P < 0.05). These results may reflect the outcome of an autoimmune process leading to beta-cell destruction/dysfunction in non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black adult diabetic patients as it occurs in a similar manner in type 1 diabetes. Among diabetic Mexican Americans, the lower prevalence of GAD65 AA suggests a lower frequency of autoimmune-related diabetes.     

Association between low testosterone and anaemia: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

There is an androgen effect on haematopoiesis; however, the effect of low testosterone in anaemia has not been fully studied. In this study, we aim to explore the association of total serum testosterone, low testosterone (≤300 ng/dl), haemoglobin concentration and prevalence of anaemia in a nationally representative sample of men. We analysed data from the NHANES III database, and men between the age of 18–80 years of age were selected. We defined anaemia as haemoglobin ≤13.5 ng/dl and low serum testosterone as ≤300 ng/dl. After analysing 5,888 men, it was shown that those with anaemia had a higher prevalence of low serum testosterone (32.3%) compared to those without anaemia (24.1%) (p < .001), and in multivariable-adjusted analysis, it was shown that low testosterone was significantly associated with anaemia (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17–1.78; p = .001). Our findings suggest that men with low serum testosterone have a higher risk of anaemia, and there is a positive association between serum testosterone and serum Hb. Further prospective studies need to be performed to confirm our findings.     

Urinary cadmium levels predict lower lung function in current and former smokers: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: A study was undertaken to determine the relation between urinary cadmium levels and lung function in a nationally representative cohort of current, former, and never smokers in the US. Urinary cadmium levels reflect the total body burden of cadmium. METHODS: The following data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analysed: urinary cadmium (adjusted for urinary creatinine), lung function, sex, race/ethnicity, age, education level, job category, body mass index, serum cotinine level, and smoking history. Linear regression models were developed to predict lung function using urinary cadmium as the main predictor, adjusting for other covariates and stratified by smoking status. RESULTS: Data were available on 16 024 adults. Current smokers had higher mean (SE) urinary cadmium/creatinine levels (0.46 (0.01) micro g/g) than former (0.32 (0.01) micro g/g) or never smokers (0.23 (0.01) micro g/g). Higher levels of urinary cadmium were associated with significantly lower forced expiratory volumes in 1 second (FEV(1)) in current (-2.06%, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.86 to -1.26 per 1 log increase in urinary cadmium) and former smokers (-1.95%, 95% CI -2.87 to -1.03) but not in never smokers (-0.18%, 95% CI -0.60 to 0.24). Similar results were obtained for forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV(1)/FVC. CONCLUSIONS: Cadmium, which is known to cause emphysema in occupational settings, may also be important in the development of tobacco related lung disease.     

The metabolic syndrome and antioxidant concentrations: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but little is known about antioxidant status among individuals with the metabolic syndrome who are at high risk for developing these conditions. Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), we compared circulating concentrations of vitamins A, C, and E; retinyl esters; five carotenoids; and selenium in 8,808 U.S. adults aged > or = 20 years with and without the metabolic syndrome. After adjusting for age, sex, race or ethnicity, education, smoking status, cotinine concentration, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and vitamin or mineral use, participants with the metabolic syndrome had significantly lower concentrations of retinyl esters, vitamin C, and carotenoids, except lycopene. With additional adjustment for serum lipid concentrations, vitamin E concentrations were significantly lower in participants with the metabolic syndrome than those without the syndrome. Retinol concentrations were similar between the two groups. After excluding participants with diabetes, the results were very similar. Consumption of fruits and vegetables was also lower among people with the metabolic syndrome. Adults with the metabolic syndrome have suboptimal concentrations of several antioxidants, which may partially explain their increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.     

Prostate-specific antigen levels in relation to cadmium exposure and zinc intake: results from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: Cadmium exposure has been suggested as a risk factor for prostate cancer, and experimental literature suggests that the carcinogenic effect of cadmium is modified by the presence of zinc. We evaluated total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in relation to urinary cadmium concentrations and dietary zinc intake. METHODS: PSA levels were determined in 1,320 men over the age of 40 in the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Urinary cadmium concentrations were measured in about one-third of the sample population, whereas dietary zinc intake was based on participants' 24-hr recall. Information on all three variables was available for 422 men in the 2001-2002 NHANES survey. We performed linear regressions to evaluate the relationships these factors after accounting for age and other covariates. RESULTS: Little evidence for an association between cadmium and elevated PSA level was observed. However, the data provide suggestive evidence for an interaction between zinc intake and cadmium exposure (P for interaction=0.09). Among men with zinc intake less than the median level of 12.67 mg/day, an increase in 1 microg/g creatinine cadmium exposure was associated with a 35% increase in PSA level. In contrast, among men with greater than median zinc intake, little evidence for an association between cadmium and PSA was found. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a protective effect of zinc intake on cadmium-induced prostatic injury, and may provide further rationale for investigating the impact of these factors individually and jointly on the etiology of prostate cancer.     

Bariatric Surgery to Reduce Mortality in US Adults. A Public Health Perspective from the Analysis of the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Linked to the US Mortality Register

Background

Type II obesity represents a major pandemic and public health threat in high-income countries. Type II obesity increases the risk of all-cause and specific-cause mortality, and it is widely acknowledged that bariatric surgery represents the only effective therapeutic option in these patients. The aim of the present study was to estimate US population attributable risk for all-cause and cause-specific mortality in type II obese subjects undergoing weight loss as resulting from bariatric surgery alone and supplemented with behavioral intervention.

Methods

The American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked to the US death registry updated to 2011 was used to estimate type II obesity prevalence and all-cause and specific cause of death for type II obese adults undergoing weight loss. Multivariate adjusted proportional hazard Cox models were used to estimate mortality risks. Statistical analyses were performed on the most updated version of the database (June 2017).

Results

A monotone positive trend for type II obesity was observed during the period 1999–2014 (p < 0.001). According to trend analysis, the rate of type II obesity in US adults is expected to rise up to 8.5%. Two- to sevenfold increased risk of all-cause and specific-cause mortality was observed for type II obese participants when compared to type I obese and overweight participants. Population attributable risk for all-cause and specific-cause mortality for type II obese subjects undergoing weight loss was ranging between 6 and 34%.

Conclusions

Bariatric surgery supplemented with behavioral intervention can result in a relevant reduction of mortality if extensively applied to the US population.

     

Secondhand smoke exposure and osteoporosis in never-smoking postmenopausal women: the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Summary

The association between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and lumbar and femoral neck osteoporosis was assessed in postmenopausal never-smoking Korean women. The presence of family members who actively smoked was associated with femoral neck osteoporosis. The number of cigarettes consumed by cohabitant smokers was positively associated with lumbar and femoral neck osteoporosis.

Introduction

This study aimed to assess the association between SHS and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methods

Of 2,067 postmenopausal women (age, ≥55 years) participating in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 925 never-smokers identified through interviews and urinary cotinine level verification were enrolled. Cross-sectional relationships between self-reported SHS exposure and osteoporosis of the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck (defined using the World Health Organization T-score criteria) were investigated by bone densitometry.

Results

Participants having actively smoking family members showed increased adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for femoral neck osteoporosis compared with participants not exposed to SHS (aOR, 3.68; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.23–10.92). Participants whose cohabitant smokers consumed any number of cigarettes per day showed increased occurrences for lumbar and femoral neck osteoporosis compared with the nonexposed group. Participants whose cohabitant smokers consumed ≥20 cigarettes/day showed increased aORs for lumbar (aOR, 5.40; 95 % CI, 1.04–28.04) and femoral neck (aOR, 4.35; 95 % CI, 1.07–17.68) osteoporosis compared with participants not exposed to SHS.

Conclusions

In postmenopausal never-smoking Korean women, exposure to SHS was positively associated with osteoporosis. This finding further emphasizes a need to identify vulnerable groups exposed to SHS to increase bone health.