Association of Environmental Cadmium Exposure and Bone Remodeling in Women over 50 Years of Age.

Chronic cadmium (Cd) toxicity is a significant health concern, and the mechanism of long-term low-dose Cd exposure on bone has not been fully elucidated yet. This study aimed to assess the association between long-term environmental Cd exposure and bone remodeling in women who aged over 50. A total of 278 non-smoking subjects from Cd-polluted group (n = 191) and non-Cd polluted group (n = 87) were investigated. Bone mineral density (BMD), the levels of three bone turnover markers (BTMs), including total procollagen type 1 amino terminal propeptide (P1NP), collagen type 1 cross-linked C-telopeptide (beta-CTX), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), together with serum soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were determined. Early markers of renal dysfunction were measured as well. Urinary Cd concentrations ranged from 0.41 to 87.31 mu g/g creatinine, with a median of 4.91 mu g/g creatinine. Age, BMD, T score, and prevalence of osteoporosis showed no statistical differences among the quartiles of urinary Cd concentrations, while serum levels of P1NP, beta-CTX, and OPG were higher in the upper quartiles. Multivariate linear regression models indicated significantly positive associations of urinary Cd concentration with serum levels of P1NP, beta-CTX, BALP, sRANKL, and OPG. A ridge regression analysis with T-score and the three BTMs, sRANKL, and OPG, adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), indicated that except for age and Cd exposure, beta-CTX was a predictor of T-score. These findings demonstrated that Cd may directly accelerate bone remodeling. Serum beta-CTX might be an appropriate biochemical marker for evaluating and monitoring Cd-related bone loss. Capsule: Cadmium (Cd) may directly accelerate bone remodeling and serum beta-CTX is a valuable biochemical marker for evaluating Cd-related bone loss.