Foetal 25-hydroxyvitamin D moderates the association of prenatal air pollution exposure with foetal glucolipid metabolism disorder and systemic inflammatory responses

Associations between maternal urinary rare earth elements during pregnancy and birth weight-for-gestational age: Roles of cord blood vitamin D levels

Prenatal exposure to rare earth elements (REEs) may contribute to adverse birth outcomes in previous studies. Cord blood vitamin D has been suggested to modify or mediate the effects of environmental exposures. However, none has investigated these roles of cord blood vitamin D in the associations of prenatal exposure to REEs with fetal growth. Maternal trimester-specific urinary concentrations of 13 REEs, cord blood total 25-hydroxyvitamin D at delivery, and birth weight (BW)-for-gestational age (GA) were determined in 710 mother-newborn pairs from Wuhan, China. Higher maternal average urinary concentrations of europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), and ytterbium (Yb) across three trimesters, either individually or jointly, were significantly associated with lower BW-for-GA Z-scores and higher odds of small for gestational age (SGA) [β = -0.092; 95 % confidence interval (CI): -0.149, -0.035 for BW-for-GA Z-scores, and odds ratio = 1.60; 95 % CI: 1.14, 2.24 for SGA involved in each unit increase in weighted quantile sum index of REEs mixture]. When stratified by cord blood vitamin D levels, the associations mentioned above persisted in participants with relatively low vitamin D levels (<13.94 μg/L, the first tertile of distribution), but not among those with relatively high levels (≥13.94 μg/L) (all p-values for interaction < 0.05). The mediation analyses taking account of exposure-mediator interaction showed that the relationships between REEs (as individual and mixture) exposure and lower BW-for-GA were partly mediated through decreasing cord blood vitamin D levels. The proportions mediated by cord blood vitamin D levels were 24.48 % for BW-for-GA Z-scores and 29.05 % for SGA corresponding to the REEs mixture exposure. Conclusively, our study revealed that prenatal exposures to Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb were related to fetal growth restriction. Cord blood vitamin D might alleviate toxic effects of these REEs and its reduction might partly mediate REE-induced fetal growth restriction.

Prenatal air pollution, fetal β-cell dysfunction and neurodevelopmental delay

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence has reported significant associations of prenatal air pollution exposure with neurodevelopmental delay in offspring. Sensitive exposure windows and the modifiable factor remain elusive.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to identify sensitive windows of air pollution during pregnancy on neurodevelopmental delay, and examine whether cord blood C-peptide mediates the relationship.

METHODS

This study included 7438 mother-newborn pairs in Hefei, China, from 2015 to 2021. Weekly exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm, 10 µm (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) was estimated at regulatory air monitoring stations in Hefei. Denver Developmental Screening Test-II and the Gesell Developmental Schedules were applied to assess the neurodevelopmental delay in children 6-36 mon of age. Distributed lag nonlinear models examined sensitive time windows of prenatal air pollutants exposure. Mediation analysis estimated the mediating role of cord blood C-peptide.

RESULTS

The sensitive PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO exposure windows associated with neurodevelopmental delay were throughout pregnancy. Weekly air pollutants exposure was related to higher neurodevelopmental delay risks [cumulative odds ratio (OR): 1.40(1.29,1.53) in PM2.5 (per 10 μg/m3), 1.40(1.28,1.53) in PM10 (per 10 μg/m3), 1.41(1.30,1.52) in CO (per 0.1 mg/m3), and 1.49(1.29,1.72) in NO2 (per 5 μg/m3)]. Mediation analysis indicated 18.3 % contributions of cord C-peptide to the relationship [average mediation effect: 0.04(0.01.0.06); average direct effect: 0.15(0.07.0.25)].

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to air pollution throughout pregnancy is linked to neurodevelopmental delay mediated by poorer fetal β-cell function. Screening and treatment of abnormal glucose metabolism in infants could benefit the prevention of air pollution-associated neurodevelopment delay.

Enantioselective effects of paclobutrazol and its enantiomers on glycolipid metabolism in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Paclobutrazol is a plant growth inhibitor widely used in agricultural production. However, toxicology studies of paclobutrazol enantiomers towards aquatic organisms are limited. Herein, effects of paclobutrazol and its two enantiomers (2R, 3R; 2S, 3S) on glycolipid metabolism of zebrafish have been systemically explored at the concentration of 10 mg/L through biochemical analyses, LC-MS/MS, molecular dynamics simulation, and gene expression. In all treatments, the contents of glucose, citric acid and lactate significantly were increased while the glycogen and pyruvate contents were decreased, in which (2R, 3R)-paclobutrazol exhibited a greater effect than the (2S, 3S)-enantiomer (P < 0.05). Then, activities of hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase in (2R, 3R)-paclobutrazol treatment were 0.74- and 1.18-fold higher than (2S, 3S)-enantiomer treatment, respectively (P < 0.001), and the results of molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the binding free energy of hexokinase 1 to (2R, 3R)-paclobutrazol was higher than that to the antipode. Moreover, lipids including triglycerides, total cholesterol, fatty acids, bile acids and glycerophospholipids in zebrafish were strikingly affected after paclobutrazol exposure. The (2R, 3R)-paclobutrazol-treated group showed the most obvious changes, indicating that it possessed much stronger disruption ability on the lipid metabolism of zebrafish. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis results revealed that (2R, 3R)-enantiomer significantly impacted expressions of glycolipid metabolism-related genes (hk1, g6pc, pck1, pk, aco, cebpa, cyp51, fasn and ppara) in zebrafish than (2S, 3S)-enantiomer (P < 0.05). Briefly, this study provides new evidences for the toxicity of paclobutrazol to aquatic organisms and the potential risk to human health at the chiral level.

Increasing systemic chronic inflammation mediated the association between poor sleep during pregnancy and gestational cardiovascular health

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the association between sleep behaviors and cardiovascular health (CVH) during pregnancy and test whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) mediates this association.

METHODS

The study included 4204 pregnant women from the Maternal and Infant Health cohort study in Hefei (MIH-Hefei). Information on sleep (chronotype, sleep duration, snoring, daytime sleepiness, and insomnia) was collected through a touch-screen structured questionnaire at 16-23 weeks' gestation. CVH (body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, glucose, and smoking) and hs-CRP were measured at 24-28 weeks' gestation. The role of hs-CRP in the association between sleep and CVH was explored in a mediation analysis, while adjusting for multiple confounding factors.

RESULTS

Poor sleep score was significantly associated with poor gestational CVH metrics, including an RR of 0.872 (95% CI, 0.810, 0.938) for having all ideal (vs. any nonideal) CVH metrics; hs-CRP level was significantly associated with poor gestational CVH metrics, including an RR of 0.531 (95% CI, 0.432, 0.609) for having all ideal (vs. any nonideal) CVH metrics. Sleep scores were positively correlated with hs-CRP level (β, 0.020, 95% CI, 0.006, 0.034). Mediation analysis revealed that the association between sleep and CVH mediated by hs-CRP was 12.31% (indirect effect, -0.0095, 95% CI, -0.0167, -0.0042).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor sleep during pregnancy, particularly late chronotype and snoring, may worsen CVH by increasing systemic chronic inflammation.

Exposure to the fungicide prothioconazole and its metabolite prothioconazole-desthio induced hepatic metabolism disorder and oxidative stress in mice

Prothioconazole (PTC), as a popular triazole fungicide, with its main metabolite prothioconazole desthio (PTC-d), have attracted widespread concern due to their widely use and toxicological effects on non-target organisms. However, toxic effects of study analyzed PTC and PTC-d on the hepatic metabolism of mammalian still remains unclear. In this study, we conducted the study of the C57BL/6 mice which oral exposure to 30 mg/kg PTC and PTC-d via metabolomic analysis. In the liver, the metabolomics profile unveiled that exposure to 30 mg/kg PTC and PTC-d led to significantly altered 13 and 28 metabolites respectively, with 6 metabolites in common including significant decreased d-Fructose, Glutathione, showing the change of carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism. Via the further exploration of genes related to hepatic glycolipid metabolism and the biomarkers of oxidative stress, we found that liver was potentially damaged after exposure to 5 and 30 mg/kg PTC and PTC-d. Particularly, it was proved that PTC-d caused more adverse effect than its parent compound PTC on hepatotoxicity, and high concentration PTC or PTC-d exposure is more harmful than low concentration exposure.

The Effect of Maternal Exposure to Air Pollutants and Heavy Metals during Pregnancy on the Risk of Neurological Disorders Using the National Health Insurance Claims Data of South Korea

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high levels of maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and heavy metals on risks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy using the National Health Insurance claims data of South Korea. The data of mothers and their newborns from 2016 to 2018 provided by the National Health Insurance Service were used (n = 843,134). Data on exposure to ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, CO, SO₂, NO₂, and O₃) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, and As) during pregnancy were matched based on the mother's National Health Insurance registration area. SO₂ (OR: 2.723, 95% CI: 1.971-3.761) and Pb (OR: 1.063, 95% CI: 1.019-1.11) were more closely associated with the incidence of ASD when infants were exposed to them in the third trimester of pregnancy. Pb (OR: 1.109, 95% CI: 1.043-1.179) in the first trimester of pregnancy and Cd (OR: 2.193, 95% CI: 1.074-4.477) in the third trimester of pregnancy were associated with the incidence of epilepsy. Thus, exposure to SO₂, NO₂, and Pb during pregnancy could affect the development of a neurologic disorder based on the timing of exposure, suggesting a relationship with fetal development. However, further research is needed.

Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution and Pre-Labor Rupture of Membranes in a Prospective Cohort Study: The Role of Maternal Hemoglobin and Iron Supplementation

BACKGROUND

Exposure to air pollution in prenatal period is associated with prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM). However, the sensitive exposure time windows and the possible biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify the sensitive time windows of exposure to air pollution for PROM risk. Further, we examined whether maternal hemoglobin levels mediate the association between exposure to air pollution and PROM, as well as investigated the potential effect of iron supplementation on this association.

METHOD

From 2015 to 2021, 6,824 mother-newborn pairs were enrolled in the study from three hospitals in Hefei, China. We obtained air pollutant data [particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5μm (PM2.5), PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤10μm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO)] from the Hefei City Ecology and Environment Bureau. Information on maternal hemoglobin levels, gestational anemia, iron supplementation, and PROM was obtained from medical records. Logistic regression models with distributed lags were used to identify the sensitive time window for the effect of prenatal exposure to air pollutant on PROM. Mediation analysis estimated the mediated effect of maternal hemoglobin in the third trimester, linking prenatal air pollution with PROM. Stratified analysis was used to investigate the potential effect of iron supplementation on PROM risk.

RESULTS

We found significant association between prenatal exposure to air pollution and increased PROM risk after adjusting for confounders, and the critical exposure windows of PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and CO were the 21th to 24th weeks of pregnancy. Every 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10, 5-μg/m3 increase in SO2, and 0.1-mg/m3 increase in CO was associated with low maternal hemoglobin levels [-0.94g/L (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.15, -0.73), -1.31g/L (95% CI: -1.55, -1.07), -2.96g/L (95% CI: -3.32, -2.61), and -1.11g/L (95% CI: -1.31, -0.92), respectively] in the third trimester. The proportion of the association between air pollution and PROM risk mediated by hemoglobin levels was 20.61% [average mediation effect (95% CI): 0.02 (0.01, 0.05); average direct effect (95%): 0.08 (0.02, 0.14)]. The PROM risk associated with exposure to low-medium air pollution could be attenuated by maternal iron supplementation in women with gestational anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Prenatal exposure to air pollution, especially in the 21st to 24th weeks of pregnancy, is associated with PROM risk, which is partly mediated by maternal hemoglobin levels. Iron supplementation in anemia pregnancies may have protective effects against PROM risk associated with exposure to low-medium air pollution. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11134.

The modifiable effect of vitamin D in the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and glycosylated hemoglobin in patients with hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Evidence on the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and serum glycosylated hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) is limited and inconclusive. In addition, whether vitamin D can modify the association between air pollution exposure and glucose metabolism has not been previously investigated. We aimed to evaluate the effects of various air pollutants on serum HbA_1c levels in patients with hypertension and, further, to explore the modification effect of individual serum vitamin D levels.

METHODS

This study was derived from UK Biobank study, and 246 027 participants with hypertension were included in our analysis. Individual exposures to particulate matters (PMs) and nitrogen oxides were estimated using the land use regression model. The associations between air pollutants and HbA_1c were assessed using the multivariable linear regression model. Among the 222 845 participants with a measurement of serum vitamin D, we explored the associations in subgroups stratified by vitamin D levels.

RESULTS

Long-term air pollutant exposures were significantly associated with higher HbA_1c levels. After adjusting for potential confounders, 10-μg/m³ (or 1-m^-1) increases in concentrations of PM with diameters ≤2.5 µm (PM_2.5), PM with diameters ≤10 µm, PM with diameters from 2.5 µm to 10 µm, PM_2.5 absorbance, nitrogen oxides, and nitrogen dioxide were significantly associated with 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.89), 0.49 (0.33-0.65), 0.81 (0.48-1.14), 0.56 (0.44-0.69), 0.06 (0.04-0.09), and 0.16 (0.12-0.21) mmol/mol increase in serum HbA_1c levels, respectively. The associations were weakened but remained significant after additional adjustment of vitamin D. In addition, the associations of air pollutants with HbA_1c were more evident in participants with low serum vitamin D levels (all P values for interaction <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term exposures to ambient air pollutants were associated with higher levels of HbA_1c in a dose-response fashion in a large UK cohort. Serum vitamin D status significantly modified these associations, and high serum vitamin D levels may attenuate the relationships between air pollution exposures and HbA_1c levels.

The association between early pregnancy exposure to green space and maternal glucolipid metabolism disorders: evaluation of the mediating role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Green space and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) can affect maternal and infant health, but limited studies have examined their effects on disorders of maternal glucolipid metabolism. We aimed to explore the interaction between green space, maternal serum 25(OH)D, and disorders of glucolipid metabolism in early pregnancy. A total of 2551 pregnant women were recruited from the Maanshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital birth cohort in China between 2020 and 2022. We calculated average residential greenness during early pregnancy using 250 m normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from satellites. Serum biomarkers (25(OH)D, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1(ApoA1), and apolipoprotein B(ApoB)) were measured. Associations between the factors were analyzed using multiple linear regression, mediation analysis, and stratified analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, green space exposure associated with decreased TG (- 7.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 12.8, - 2.9), TC (- 7.0%; 95% CI: - 11.4, - 2.7), and LDL-C (- 8.4%; 95% CI: - 12.9, - 3.9), ApoB (- 2.0%; 95% CI: - 3.0, - 1.0) and increased HDL-C (2.7%; 95% CI: 1.5, 3.8) and ApoA1 (5.1%; 95% CI: 3.9, 6.3) for each IQR increase in NDVI. A comparable link was found between maternal serum 25(OH)D and indicators of glucolipid metabolism (P < 0.05). In addition, mediation analysis showed that the association between green space exposure and maternal glucolipid metabolic index was mediated by serum 25(OH)D at 6.37%. In stratified analyses, a considerable association between 25(OH)D and glucolipid metabolic index (except TG) was observed only at higher green space exposures. This study confirms that high levels of green space exposure in early pregnancy and vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk of glucolipid metabolism disorders and suggests that green space may favor glucolipid metabolism by increasing vitamin D levels, particularly at high NDVI values.

The associations of particulate matter short-term exposure and serum lipids are modified by vitamin D status: A panel study of young healthy adults

Particulate matter (PM) exposure is associated to the adverse change in blood lipids. Vitamin D is beneficial to lipid metabolism, but whether vitamin D levels modifies the impact of air pollutants on lipids is unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate if vitamin D modifies the associations of PM and serum lipids in young healthy people. From December 2017 to January 2018, a panel study with five once weekly follow-ups was conducted on 88 healthy adults aged 21.09 (1.08) (mean (SD)) years on average in Guangzhou, China. We measured serum lipids, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations (440 blood samples in total), mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5), ≤1.0 μm (PM_1.0), and ≤0.5 μm (PM_0.5), and number concentrations of particulate matter with diameters ≤0.2 μm (PN_0.2) and ≤0.1 μm (PN_0.1) at each follow-up. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to assess the interaction of vitamin D and size-fractionated PM short-term exposure on four lipid metrics. We found the interactions between 25(OH)D and size-fractionated PM exposure on blood lipids in different lags (lag 3 days and 4 days). An interquartile range increase in PM_2.5, PM_1.0, PM_0.5 were significantly associated with increments of 12.30%, 12.99%, and 13.66% in triglycerides (TGs) at lag 4 days at vitamin D levels <15 ng/mL group, respectively. Similar results were found for PN_0.2, PN_0.1 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). All the associations between size-fractionated PM and blood lipids were found null statistically significant in vitamin D levels ≥15 ng/mL group.

Effects of vitamin D on associations between air pollution and mental health outcomes in Korean adults: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that low individual vitamin D levels enhance adverse effects associated with air pollution on mental health conditions. The aim of this study was to identify associations between ambient air pollution exposure, mental health, and serum vitamin D status in the general population of South Korea.

METHODS

We included national representative data for 29,373 adults in the final analysis. We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations to assess vitamin D status for each participant. We assessed mental health factors (i.e., perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation), and analyzed associations between these factors and individuals' annual average exposures to air pollutants, including particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide (CO).

RESULTS

Using an adjusted model, we found PM₁₀ affected mental health outcomes, such as perceived stress (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-1.09), depression symptoms (OR = 1.12; 95 % CI = 1.06-1.18), and suicidal ideation (OR = 1.11; 95 % CI = 1.05-1.17). Effects of the pollutants NO₂ and CO were significant only in the group with perceived stress and depressive symptoms. PM₁₀ and NO₂ exposures were significantly associated with increased odds of adverse mental health in participants with vitamin D deficiency.

LIMITATIONS

Since the cross-sectional design of KNHANES data, it is not possible to evaluate the causal relationship between air pollution exposure, vitamin D status and mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

This study results suggest that associations between ambient air pollution and mental health outcomes were stronger in participants with vitamin D deficiency.

Fine particulate matter, vitamin D, physical activity, and major depressive disorder in elderly adults: Results from UK Biobank

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to investigate the association between PM2.5 exposure and major depressive disorder, and to examine whether vitamin D and physical activity could attenuate the impact of PM2.5 on major depressive disorder.

METHODS

39168 elderly adults (age≥60 years) who had valid estimates on exposure of PM2.5 in 2010 and data on major depressive disorder were extracted from the UK Biobank. Major depressive disorder was assessed by lifetime experience of mild, moderate, and severe major depression with validated instruments. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between PM2.5 exposure and major depressive disorder.

RESULTS

A total of 9079 participants had major depressive disorder, with a prevalence of 23.2%. The odds ratio (OR) of major depressive disorder was 1.096 (1.023, 1.175) for participants in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile of PM2.5. The correlation of PM2.5 with major depressive disorder generally increased with the decreasing levels of vitamin D. For instance, in participants with the highest quartile of PM2.5, the corresponding ORs were 1.141 (0.951, 1.369), 1.232 (1.027, 1.478), 1.286 (1.072, 1.543), and 1.390 (1.159, 1.667) for those who had adequate, desirable, insufficient, and deficient levels of vitamin D, respectively. Additionally, significant modification effects of physical activity on the relationship between PM2.5 and major depressive disorder were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that high levels of vitamin D and physical activity may attenuate the relationship between PM2.5 and major depressive disorder among elderly adults.

PM2.5 exposure and maternal glucose metabolism in early pregnancy: Associations and potential mediation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has become a new global epidemic with a rapidly increasing prevalence. Previous studies have suggested that air pollution is associated with GDM risk, but the results are inconsistent, and mechanistic studies are limited. Based on a hospital-based cohort, a total of 6374 participants were included in this study. Individual daily PM2.5 exposure at a 1-km resolution was predicted using a full-spatiotemporal-coverage model. The results of multiple linear regression showed that glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly associated with PM2.5 both in the 1-month preconception and in the first trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, HbA1c decreased 0.437% (95% CI: -0.629, -0.244) as the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) increased by one interquartile range (IQR) (9.2 ng/ml). An IQR increase in PM2.5 exposure was also negatively associated with serum 25(OH)D (estimated change% and 95% CI: -7.249 (-9.054, -5.408) in the 1-month preconception and - 13.069 (-15.111, -10.979) in the first trimester of pregnancy). Mediation analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D status mediated the association between HbA1c and PM2.5 exposure both in the preconception and in the first trimester (mediated percent: 2.00% and 4.05% (Sobel p＜0.001), respectively). The result suggested a vicious cycle among PM2.5 exposure, lower serum VD status and a higher HbA1c. More studies are warranted since the protective effect of 25(OH)D against glucose disorders associated with air pollution in this study was limited.