Blood lead and blood pressure. Relationship in the adolescent and adult US population

Abstract

Heavy Pb exposure has been connected to cardiovascular disease, but modest exposures encountered in the general environment have not been associated previously with disease risk. The relationship between blood Pb levels and blood pressures was examined using data from the 2nd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A direct relationship was found between blood Pb levels and systolic and diastolic pressures for men and women and for white and black persons aged 12-74 yr. Blood Pb levels were significantly higher in younger men and women (aged 21-55 yr) with high blood pressure, but not in older men or women (aged 56-74 yr). In multiple regression analyses, the relationship of blood Pb to blood pressure was independent of other variables for men, but not for women. Dietary Ca and serum Zn levels were inversely related to blood pressure.