Arsenic, B vitamins, Folate

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" These findings indicate that the effect of low-level arsenic exposure on

blood pressure is nonlinear and may be more pronounced in persons with

lower intake of nutrients related to arsenic metabolism and cardiovascular

health. "

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1: Am J Epidemiol. 2006 Dec 12;

Arsenic Exposure from Drinking Water, Dietary Intakes of B Vitamins and

Folate, and Risk of High Blood Pressure in Bangladesh: A Population-based,

Cross-sectional Study.

Chen Y, Factor-Litvak P, Howe GR, Graziano JH, Brandt-Rauf P, Parvez

F, van Geen A, Ahsan H.

Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia

University, New York, NY.

The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis to evaluate the

association between arsenic exposure from drinking water and blood

pressure using baseline data of 10,910 participants in the Health Effects

of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh (October 2000-May 2002).

A time-weighted well arsenic concentration (TWA) based on current and past

use of drinking wells was derived. Odds ratios for high pulse pressure

(>/=55 mmHg) by increasing TWA quintiles (</=8, 8.1-40.8, 40.9-91.0,

91.1-176.0, and 176.1-864.0 mug/liter) were 1.00 (referent), 1.39 (95%

confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.71), 1.21 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.49), 1.19

(95% CI: 0.97, 1.45), and 1.19 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.46). Among participants

with a lower than average dietary intake level of B vitamins and folate,

the odds ratios for high pulse pressure by increasing TWA quintiles were

1.00 (referent), 1.84 (95% CI: 1.07, 3.16), 1.89 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.20),

1.83 (95% CI: 1.09, 3.07), and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.20). The odds ratios

for systolic hypertension suggest a similar but weaker association. No

apparent associations were observed between TWA and general or diastolic

hypertension.

These findings indicate that the effect of low-level arsenic exposure on

blood pressure is nonlinear and may be more pronounced in persons with

lower intake of nutrients related to arsenic metabolism and cardiovascular

health. Future research is needed to evaluate the effect of low-level

arsenic exposure on specific cardiovascular outcomes.