Relationship between blood mercury concentrations and serum γ-glutamyltranspeptidase level in Korean adults using data from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mercury and serum γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) play an important role in anti-oxidant mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood mercury concentrations and GGT in Korean men and women. METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the relationship between blood mercury concentration and serum GGT among 1959 subjects (aged 20-87 y; 965 men, 994 women), using data from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high GGT (≥ 75 th percentile) for both men and women were calculated across blood mercury quartiles using multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean values of BMI, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglycerides were highest in the highest quartile of blood mercury concentrations in both sexes. GGT levels gradually increased in accordance with blood mercury quartiles. Compared to the lowest quartile of blood mercury concentrations, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for high GGT of the highest quartile was 2.59 (1.51-4.43) in men and 2.03 (1.13-3.67) in women. CONCLUSION: We found a positive relationship between blood mercury concentration and serum GGT level in a representative population sample of Korean adults.