The association of urinary cadmium with sex steroid hormone concentrations in a general population sample of US adult men
2008

Urinary Cadmium and Hormone Levels in US Men

Sample size: 1262 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Menke Andy, Guallar Eliseo, Shiels Meredith S, Rohrmann Sabine, Basaria Shehzad, Rifai Nader, Nelson William G, Platz Elizabeth A

Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Hypothesis

Is there an association between urinary cadmium levels and sex steroid hormone concentrations in adult men?

Conclusion

Urinary cadmium levels were not associated with sex steroid hormone concentrations in a large nationally representative sample of US men.

Supporting Evidence

  • Higher cadmium levels were associated with higher testosterone and estradiol levels before adjusting for smoking.
  • After adjusting for smoking, no significant associations were found between cadmium and hormone levels.
  • Among never smokers, there was a marginally significant negative association between cadmium and testosterone.

Takeaway

The study looked at whether cadmium in urine affects hormone levels in men, and found that it doesn't really have an effect.

Methodology

The study measured urinary cadmium and hormone levels in a representative sample of US men using standardized protocols.

Potential Biases

Potential residual confounding from smoking and other lifestyle factors.

Limitations

The study's findings may not apply to higher levels of cadmium exposure and were based on single measures of hormones and cadmium.

Participant Demographics

Men aged 20 years and older from a nationally representative sample.

Statistical Information

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2458-8-72

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