Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is associated with exposure to heavy metals in the environment, poses a considerable public health challenge globally. We analysed the urinary concentrations of 10 metals, namely, tungsten, cadmium (Cd), molybdenum (Mo), caesium...

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Main Authors: Yin-Ping Wu, Jin Feng, Yuan-Yuan Zhang, Bai-Yun Wu, Ze-Hua Zhao, Yu-Chen Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500795X
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author Yin-Ping Wu
Jin Feng
Yuan-Yuan Zhang
Bai-Yun Wu
Ze-Hua Zhao
Yu-Chen Fan
author_facet Yin-Ping Wu
Jin Feng
Yuan-Yuan Zhang
Bai-Yun Wu
Ze-Hua Zhao
Yu-Chen Fan
author_sort Yin-Ping Wu
collection DOAJ
description Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is associated with exposure to heavy metals in the environment, poses a considerable public health challenge globally. We analysed the urinary concentrations of 10 metals, namely, tungsten, cadmium (Cd), molybdenum (Mo), caesium, antimony, cobalt (Co), thallium, uranium (U), lead (Pb), and barium (Ba), in 5205 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression were used to estimate the associations between urinary metal concentrations and MASLD. The mediating effect of biological ageing on the association between metal exposure and the risk of MASLD was determined using mediation analysis. Ba, Mo, and Co concentrations were found to be positively correlated with the risk of MASLD. Cd, Pb, Co, and U concentrations were positively correlated, while urinary Ba concentration was negatively correlated with phenotypic age and biological age. Biological and phenotypic age were found to be significantly correlated with the occurrence of MASLD. Mediating roles of biological and phenotypic age were found for the associations between urinary concentrations of individual metals (chiefly Co, U, and Cd) and the risk of MASLD, and for the combined effects of multiple metals. In conclusion, metal exposure contributed to the development of MASLD, and this was partially mediated by biological ageing.
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spelling doaj-art-a9aee5d223df4bafb1e4f000b32315c32025-08-20T03:20:05ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-07-0130011845510.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118455Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseYin-Ping Wu0Jin Feng1Yuan-Yuan Zhang2Bai-Yun Wu3Ze-Hua Zhao4Yu-Chen Fan5Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Jinan Central Hospital affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250013, ChinaDepartment of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, ChinaDepartment of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, ChinaDepartment of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Corresponding author.Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is associated with exposure to heavy metals in the environment, poses a considerable public health challenge globally. We analysed the urinary concentrations of 10 metals, namely, tungsten, cadmium (Cd), molybdenum (Mo), caesium, antimony, cobalt (Co), thallium, uranium (U), lead (Pb), and barium (Ba), in 5205 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression, weighted quantile sum regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression were used to estimate the associations between urinary metal concentrations and MASLD. The mediating effect of biological ageing on the association between metal exposure and the risk of MASLD was determined using mediation analysis. Ba, Mo, and Co concentrations were found to be positively correlated with the risk of MASLD. Cd, Pb, Co, and U concentrations were positively correlated, while urinary Ba concentration was negatively correlated with phenotypic age and biological age. Biological and phenotypic age were found to be significantly correlated with the occurrence of MASLD. Mediating roles of biological and phenotypic age were found for the associations between urinary concentrations of individual metals (chiefly Co, U, and Cd) and the risk of MASLD, and for the combined effects of multiple metals. In conclusion, metal exposure contributed to the development of MASLD, and this was partially mediated by biological ageing.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500795XMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseaseMixed metal exposureMediation analysisBiological ageingHeavy metals
spellingShingle Yin-Ping Wu
Jin Feng
Yuan-Yuan Zhang
Bai-Yun Wu
Ze-Hua Zhao
Yu-Chen Fan
Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Mixed metal exposure
Mediation analysis
Biological ageing
Heavy metals
title Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_full Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_fullStr Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_full_unstemmed Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_short Biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
title_sort biological ageing mediates the associations between urinary metals and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease
topic Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Mixed metal exposure
Mediation analysis
Biological ageing
Heavy metals
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500795X
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