Korean J Obes.  2013 Dec;22(4):237-242.

The Relationships Between Blood Mercury Concentration and Body Composition Measures Using 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Kang DW
• Lee KY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We evaluated the relationships between blood mercury level and body composition measures in Korean adults using 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
METHODS
The sample from 2010 KNHANES data consisted of 1,853 adults (918 males, 935 females) aged 20 years or older. The relationships between blood mercury concentration and body composition measures (including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total fat mass, total lean mass, percentage of total body fat (PBF), truncal fat mass, truncal lean mass, and percentage of truncal fat) were analyzed using multiple linear regression and logistic regression after adjusting for confounders such as sex, age, education level, physical activity, daily energy intake, fish consumption, smoking, and alcohol use.
RESULTS
In multiple linear regression analysis, blood mercury concentration was significantly and positively associated with body composition measures except for PBF after adjusting for confounders. The odds ratios for obesity (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (WC > or = 90 cm for men and 85 cm for women) increased with higher sex-specific quartiles of blood mercury concentration (P for linear trend < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
High blood mercury level may be an indicator of obesity and abdominal obesity.

Keyword

Mercury; Obesity; Body composition

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adult
Body Composition*
Body Mass Index
Education
Energy Intake
Humans
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Male
Motor Activity
Nutrition Surveys*
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal
Odds Ratio
Smoke
Smoking
Waist Circumference
Smoke