Lead exposure is related to hypercortisolemic profiles and allostatic load in Brazilian older adults

Juliana N Souza-Talarico; Deborah Suchecki; Robert-Paul Juster; Pierrich Plusquellec; Fernando Barbosa Jr; Vinícius Bunscheit; Tania Marcourakis; Tatiane Martins de Matos; Sonia J Lupien

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.012

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Lead exposure is related to hypercortisolemic profiles and allostatic load in Brazilian older adults

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Lead exposure is related to hypercortisolemic profiles and allostatic load in Brazilian older adults

Juliana N Souza-Talarico, Deborah Suchecki, Robert-Paul Juster, Pierrich Plusquellec, Fernando Barbosa Jr, Vinícius Bunscheit, Tania Marcourakis, Tatiane Martins de Matos and Sonia J Lupien

Environmental research, Vol.154, pp.261-268

04/2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.012

PMID: 28110240

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Abstract

Lead levels (Pb) have been linked to both hyper- and hypo-reactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) axis to acute stress in animals and humans. Similarly, allostatic load (AL), the ‘wear and tear’ of chronic stress, is associated with inadequate HPA axis activity. We examined whether Pb levels would be associated with altered diurnal cortisol profile, as a primary mediator of AL, during aging. Pb levels were measured from blood samples (BPb) of 126 Brazilian individuals (105 women), between 50 and 82 years old. Six neuroendocrine, metabolic, and anthropometric biomarkers were analyzed and values were transformed into an AL index using clinical reference cut-offs. Salivary samples were collected at home over 2 days at awakening, 30-min after waking, afternoon, and evening periods to determine cortisol levels. A multiple linear regression model showed a positive association between BPb as the independent continuous variable and cortisol awakening response (R2=0.128; B=0.791; p=0.005) and overall cortisol concentration (R2=0.266; B=0.889; p<0.001) as the outcomes. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that individuals with high BPb levels showed higher cortisol at 30min after awakening (p=0.003), and in the afternoon (p=0.002) than those with low BPb values. Regarding AL, regression model showed that BPb was positively associated with AL index (R2=0.100; B=0.204; p=0.032). Correlation analyzes with individual biomarkers showed that BPb was positively correlated with HDL cholesterol (p=0.02) and negatively correlated with DHEA-S (p=0.049). These findings suggest that Pb exposure, even at levels below the reference blood lead level for adults recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, may contribute to AL and dysregulated cortisol functioning in older adults. Considering these findings were based on cross-sectional data future research is needed to confirm our exploratory results. •Lead exposure is associated with several negative health outcomes.•Allostatic load (AL), the wear and tear of chronic stress, may be affected by lead exposure.•Lead concentration was associated with high cortisol levels and high allostatic load.•Even at very low levels of exposure, lead was associated with chronic stress mediators.

Aging

Allostatic load

Cortisol

HPA axis

Blood lead

Details

Title: Subtitle: Lead exposure is related to hypercortisolemic profiles and allostatic load in Brazilian older adults
Creators: Juliana N Souza-Talarico - Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403 000, Brazil
Deborah Suchecki - Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
Robert-Paul Juster - Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, United States
Pierrich Plusquellec - Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, QC, Canada H1N 3V2
Fernando Barbosa Jr - Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040903, Brazil
Vinícius Bunscheit - Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
Tania Marcourakis - Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Tatiane Martins de Matos - Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403 000, Brazil
Sonia J Lupien - Centre for Studies on Human Stress, Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, QC, Canada H1N 3V2
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Environmental research, Vol.154, pp.261-268
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.012
PMID: 28110240
NLM abbreviation: Environ Res
ISSN: 0013-9351
eISSN: 1096-0953
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/501100001807, name: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, award: 0823/09, 2009/13911-6
Language: English
Date published: 04/2017
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Nursing
Record Identifier: 9984065374402771

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