Table 2.
Blood lead levels, urine lead levels, and essential trace elements levels in blood.
| Timepoint | Probiotic | Control | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | Mean (SD) | N | Mean (SD) | p-value | |
| Blood lead level (μg/dL) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 5.3 (2.8) | 24 | 4.8 (2.1) | |
| Week 4 | 24 | 3.7 (2.0) | 24 | 3.8 (3.0) | 0.99 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 3.7 (2.0) | 21 | 3.5 (1.5) | 0.64 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 3.1 (1.7) | 18 | 2.9 (2.0) | 0.92 |
| Urine lead level (μg/dL) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 6.0 (4.8) | 24 | 7.3 (5.8) | |
| Week 4 | 23 | 4.8 (3.4) | 24 | 4.7 (2.3) | 0.98 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 3.4 (1.6) | 21 | 4.8 (3.1) | 0.02 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 4.2 (2.1) | 18 | 4.4 (2.9) | 0.77 |
| Calcium level in blood (mmol/L) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 1.8 (0.2) | 24 | 1.7 (0.2) | |
| Week 4 | 24 | 1.7 (0.2) | 24 | 1.7 (0.2) | 0.85 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 1.7 (0.1) | 21 | 1.7 (0.1) | >0.99 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 1.7 (0.2) | 18 | 1.7 (0.1) | 0.88 |
| Zinc level in blood (μmol/L) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 75.7 (13.4) | 24 | 74.3 (11.4) | |
| Week 4 | 24 | 78.7 (11.4) | 24 | 78.1 (8.6) | 0.91 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 72.9 (8.4) | 21 | 75.1 (9.0) | 0.44 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 74.4 (9.6) | 18 | 72.5 (5.9) | 0.52 |
| Copper level in blood (μmol/L) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 18.8 (2.7) | 24 | 17.5 (2.7) | |
| Week 4 | 24 | 18.9 (2.7) | 24 | 17.4 (2.4) | 0.05 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 17.5 (2.7) | 21 | 17.1 (3.3) | 0.57 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 17.9 (3.4) | 18 | 19.3 (3.0) | 0.20 |
| Magnesium level in blood (mmol/L) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 1.4 (0.1) | 24 | 1.4 (0.1) | |
| Week 4 | 24 | 1.4 (0.1) | 24 | 1.5 (0.1) | 0.10 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 1.4 (0.1) | 21 | 1.4 (0.1) | 0.60 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 1.4 (0.1) | 18 | 1.4 (0.1) | 0.43 |
| Iron level in blood (mmol/L) | |||||
| Baseline | 30 | 7.6 (0.8) | 24 | 7.6 (0.8) | |
| Week 4 | 24 | 7.8 (0.5) | 24 | 7.7 (0.5) | 0.85 |
| Week 8 | 25 | 7.6 (0.4) | 21 | 7.9 (0.5) | 0.04 |
| Week 12 | 21 | 7.7 (0.6) | 18 | 7.7 (0.4) | 0.92 |
FAS population. p-values were derived from the difference for least squares means, in a linear mixed-effects model for repeated measures (MMRMs) that compared changes with baseline between the experimental group and the placebo group. N, number of subjects; SD, standard deviation. Bold p-value represents statistical significance (p< 0.05).