Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2012 Apr;55(4):250-256. 10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.4.250.

The change of blood lead levels in menopausal women and its association with relevant factors

• Won SY
• Kim NS
• Lee BK
• Sunwoo JG

• KMID: 1992621
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.4.250

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study assessed blood lead in women in relation to menopause and its association with other related relevant factors to evaluate the impact of menopausal status on blood lead levels in women.
METHODS
Eighty three menopausal women and 52 premenopausal women without known occupational lead exposure were included. Blood lead was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Lutenizing hormone (LH) were measured in addition to hemoglobin, hematocrit and body mass index as an study variables. Information on smoking and drinking status were also obtained.
RESULTS
The mean (95% confidence intervals) level of blood lead in menopausal women was 2.27 microg/dL (2.12-2.41 microg/dL) which was significantly higher than premenopausal women (1.89 microg/dL, 1.76-2.02 microg/dL), but there was no statistical difference of mean blood levels between perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. In a multivariate regression analysis after adjusting for age, body mass index hemoglobin, drinking and smoking status, only menopausal status was a significant predictor of increases in log transformed blood lead without any significant contribution of FSH and LH.
CONCLUSION
These results confirmed that menopausal status was associated with significant increase of blood lead levels in Korean women who were not occupationally exposed to lead.

Keyword

Blood lead; Premenopause; Perimenopause; Postmenopause; Follicle-stimulating hormone; Lutenizing hormone

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Drinking
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Hematocrit
Hemoglobins
Humans
Menopause
Occupations
Perimenopause
Postmenopause
Premenopause
Smoke
Smoking
Spectrophotometry, Atomic
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Hemoglobins
Smoke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Mean and standard deviation grouped by number of child and menopausal status.

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