Bone Fracture Risk and Renal Dysfunction in a Highly Cadmium Exposed Thai Population

Abstract

Background: Paddy fields in the Mae Sot, Tak Province of Thailand are polluted with unsafe levels of cadmium (Cd). Elderly populations have a high Cd body burden, putting them at elevated risk of renal dysfunction and bone fractures. We aimed to compare bone fracture risk between glomerular dysfunction, proximal tubular dysfunction, and calcium (Ca) handling abnormalities.

Study design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Serum osteocalcin and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen were used to detect bone metabolism abnormalities, whereas glomerular filtration rate, serum cystatin C, urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and fractional excretion of calcium (FECa) were used to indicate renal dysfunction. Urinary Cd was used as an exposure marker.

Results: FECa >2% was associated with high bone fracture risk in both genders. The adjusted odds of bone fracture risk were 6.029 and 3.288 in men and women, respectively with FECa >2% relative to the FECa <2% group. Proximal tubular dysfunction and glomerular dysfunction did not significantly relate to the risk of bone fracture.

Conclusions: Abnormal Ca handling is a key risk factor for bone fracture in Cd-exposed people. Men and women were at risk of bone fracture risk at a similar rate. FECa was a specific indicator of Ca wasting and was more cost-effective compared to β2-MG and serum cystatin C. We recommend using FECa to monitor abnormal Ca metabolism in individuals with FECa>2%. Reduced renal toxicant exposure and Ca supplementation are recommended for Cd-exposed populations to reduce bone fracture risk.

Introduction

High levels of cadmium (Cd) are exposure causes renal and bone abnormalities. Itai-itai disease is the most severe pathology caused by high-level cadmium exposure¹. At low Cd exposure levels, exposed populations are also at risk of bone disease. The prevalence of osteoporosis in a Chinese Cd-exposed population was 2.09 times higher than reference group², and bone fracture risk in an exposed population from Sweden was 8.80 times higher than a reference population³.

Cadmium contamination was identified in the Mae Sot district in Thailand, where a zinc mine operated. A survey of Cd levels in rice paddy soil showed that Cd in the polluted area ranged between 0.5-284 mg/kg, which was higher than in other areas of Thailand (0.01-1.30 mg/kg)⁴. In addition, 95% of surveyed rice grain samples were contaminated with Cd levels greater than 0.1 mg/kg, the level considered safe⁵. Rice is a staple food for the population of Mae Sot, putting them at increased risk of Cd toxicity⁶. There were 7697 inhabitants in the contaminated area and 7.2% of those inhabitants showed urinary Cd (U-Cd) >5 µg/g Cr⁶, a level associated with increased proximal tubular dysfunction⁷. A follow-up survey in 2007 found a 19.9% prevalence of permanent proximal tubular dysfunction and a 16.9% prevalence of glomerular dysfunction among the Cd-exposed population, which was higher than an unexposed Thai population⁸. Their exposure level was also greater than the threshold level for osteoporosis and increased bone fracture risk⁹.

Biomarkers of bone metabolism status have the advantage of identifying changes in bone metabolism and physiology earlier than measurements of bone mineral density¹⁰. Bone biomarker determination is a non-invasive and comparatively inexpensive tool to assess metabolic bone disease. Serum osteocalcin (OC) and urine cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) levels have previously been associated with an increased risk of bone fracture in clinical and epidemiological studies¹¹. In a Cd-polluted area in Japan, associations between U-Cd and NTx and Cd-induced osteoporosis gradually developed in exposed subjects after cessation of exposure¹². A proposed explanation for Cd-induced bone disease is kidney dysfunction, particularly proximal tubular abnormalities¹³. However, evidence for a direct relationship between Cd exposure and decreased bone mass in the absence of tubular dysfunction has also been observed¹⁴.

To preserve bone health and provide suitable health promotion programs in Cd-exposed populations, the relationship between kidney dysfunction and bone metabolism needs to be elucidated. We aimed to quantify the association between renal abnormality and bone fracture risk in a Cd-exposed population from Thailand using biomarkers.

Methods

Population and biological sampling

Study participants from Mae Sot, aged >50 yr with urinary cadmium levels quantified as higher than the reference level 5 µg/g Cr in a 2004 survey were enrolled⁶. The target sample size was 554 subjects, and of these 554 subjects, 419 (75.63 %) agreed to participate including 158 men and 261 women.

Informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study protocol was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki as described in our previous report¹⁵.

Urine samples were collected in polyethylene bottles after the subjects underwent a physical examination and anthropometric measurements. Each urine sample was divided into three (3–5 ml) aliquots. In samples with pH <5, the pH of one of the three aliquots was adjusted to pH 6–8 by 0.5 N sodium hydroxide to prevent the degradation of β₂-microglobulin in acidic conditions. A trained nurse drew five-to-ten milliliters of venipuncture blood. All aliquots were then frozen and stored at −20 °C until analysis.

Urinary cadmium measurement

Urinary cadmium concentrations were quantified using a flameless atomic-absorption spectrometer (Shimadzu Model AAS-6300, Japan), with palladium chloride in 5% nitric acid solution as a modifier. Method validation of the analytical techniques was performed and verified by certified standard reference materials (The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Washington, DC, USA)¹⁶. Urinary creatinine concentrations were measured by a method based on the Jaffe reaction.

Serum and urinary calcium measurements

Serum and urinary calcium were quantified by a colorimetric assay using an automated analyzer (Coulter HmX, Konelab 30 and Bechman Synchron CX3) at Mae Sot General Hospital. The laboratory was evaluated and certified by the Bureau of Laboratory Quality Standards, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The fractional excretion of calcium (FECa) was calculated based on the serum and urinary calcium concentrations ¹⁷.

Renal and bone markers determination

The concentration of β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) in urine was determined by enzyme immunoassay (GLAZYME β₂microglobulin-EIA test kit, Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., Japan). Serum cystatin C concentrations (Cystatin C) were determined by a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay PET kit (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). Serum osteocalcin (OC) was measured by immunoassay. Urinary type I collagen crosslinked N-telopeptide (NTx), was measured by a competitive enzyme immunoassay ¹⁵. OC and NTx were used as biomarkers of bone turnover¹⁵.

Estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated from serum creatinine using the MDRD equation. GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m² defines chronic kidney disease¹⁸. Cystatin C levels >1.4 mg/L indicate glomerular dysfunction¹⁹, β₂-MG levels >1000 µg/g Cr show irreversible proximal tubular dysfunction²⁰, and FECa levels >2% indicate abnormal high excretion of Ca via urine²¹.

Bone fracture risk was identified by a high NTx level. The cut-off values to indicate bone fracture risk were >66.2 nmol BCE/mmol Cr in men, and >89.0 nmol BCE/mmol Cr in women¹¹.

Data analysis

U-Cd, β₂-MG, and NTx were log-transformed to correct for departures from normal distributions. Bivariate associations were calculated using partial correlations, controlling for age, and visualized using scatter plots. Mean comparisons of biomarkers between genders were performed by ANCOVA adjusting for age. The Chi-square test was used to determine the distribution of subjects at high bone fracture risk according to categorized renal biomarker concentrations. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated by logistic regression. In the logistic regression model, the dependent variable was bone fracture risk indicated by high NTx level whereas the independent variables were age, BMI, smoking status (0=nonsmoker, 1=smoker), urinary cadmium, GFR, Cystatin C, β₂-MG, and FECa. P-values of 0.05 or less were considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean age was 64.56 yr in men and 61.52 yr in women. After adjustment by mean age, the mean Cd exposure level was 6.81 µg/g Cr in men and 7.29 µg/g Cr in women, which was not significant difference between genders (Table 1). The β₂-MG mean concentration in men was higher than women were (765.60 vs 250.03 µg/g Cr, P<0.001). The Cystatin C mean concentration in men was borderline significantly higher than women were (1.36 vs 1.27, P=0.051). OC and NTx mean in women were significantly higher than men were.

Table 1. Comparison of BMI, urinary cadmium, renal dysfunction markers and bone turnover markers between men and women, after adjusting for age .

Variables	Men, n=158		Women, n=261		ANCOVA
	Mean	SE	Mean	SE	P value
Body mass index (kg/m2)	20.51	0.29	21.44	0.23	0.013
Urinary Cadmium (µg/g Cr)	6.81	1.05	7.29	1.04	0.291
Glomerular filtration rate	65.00	1.25	63.14	0.97	0.245
Serum cystatin C (mg/l)	1.36	0.03	1.27	0.03	0.051
Urinary β2-microglobulin (µg/g Cr)	765.60	1.17	250.03	1.13	0.001
Fractional excretion of calcium (%)	1.19	0.15	1.28	0.12	0.659
Serum osteocalcin (ng/ml)	5.55	0.28	6.83	0.22	0.001
NTx (nmol BCE/mmol Cr)	43.65	1.05	65.01	1.04	0.001

NTx: Urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide

Partial correlations between OC and NTx and U-Cd, GFR, Cystatin C, and FECa are presented in Table 2. In men, OC was significantly correlated with BMI, GFR, Cystatin C, and β₂-MG. NTx was significantly correlated with BMI, U-Cd, GFR, β₂-MG, and FECa. In women, OC was significantly correlated with BMI, U-Cd, GFR, Cystatin C, β₂-MG, and FECa. NTx was significantly correlated with BMI, U-Cd, GFR, β₂-MG, and FECa. Scatter plots highlight significant positive correlations between NTx and U-Cd (Figure 1) and NTx and FECa (Figure 2) in both genders.

Table 2. Partial correlations of bone markers and body mass index, urinary cadmium, and renal markers controlling for age .

Variables	Men				Women
	OC	P value	NTx	P value	OC	P value	NTx	P value
Body mass index (kg/m2)	-0.165	0.039	-0.314	0.001	-0.227	0.001	-0.325	0.001
Urinary Cadmium (µg/g Cr)	0.111	0.168	0.219	0.006	0.144	0.020	0.237	0.001
Glomerular filtration rate	-0.220	0.006	0.186	0.019	-0.183	0.003	0.254	0.001
Serum cystatin C (mg/l)	0.313	0.001	-0.001	0.988	0.290	0.001	-0.064	0.307
Urinary β2-microglobulin (µg/g Cr)	0.251	0.001	0.358	0.001	0.278	0.001	0.163	0.008
Fractional excretion of calcium (%)	0.097	0.226	0.312	0.001	0.215	0.001	0.196	0.001

Figure 1.

The association between Urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) and Fractional Excretion of calcium (FECa) in men (a) and women (b)

In men, the prevalence of high bone fracture risk in individuals with β₂-MG >1000 µg/g Cr was significantly higher compared to individuals with β₂-MG <1000 µg/g Cr (29.73% vs 13.10%, P=0.010) (Table 3). Additionally, the prevalence of high bone fracture risk in men with FECa >2% was significantly elevated relative to those with FECa<2% (54.55 vs 15.44%, P<0.001) (Table 3). The prevalence of high bone fracture risk was significantly higher in women with FECa>2% relative to those with FECa<2% (56.10% vs 24.55%, P <0.001).

Table 3. Percentage distribution of subjects according to bone fracture risk and renal markers in men and women .

Variables	Men					Women
	Negative		Positive		x2	Negative		Positive		x2
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	P value	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	P value
Glomerular filtration rate (ml/min/1.73 m3 body surface area)										0.024
>60	79	75.96	25	24.04	0.176	104	65.41	55	34.59
<60	46	85.19	8	14.81		80	78.43	22	21.57
Cystatin C (ng/ml)										0.616
<1.4	84	79.25	22	20.75	1.000	144	69.57	63	30.43
>1.4	41	78.85	11	21.15		40	74.07	14	25.93
Urinary β2-microglobulin (µg/g Cr)										0.397
<1,000	73	86.9	11	13.10	0.011	150	71.77	59	28.23
>1,000	52	70.27	22	29.73		34	65.38	18	34.62
Fractional excretion of calcium (%)										0.001
<2	115	84.56	21	15.44	0.001	166	75.45	54	24.55
>2	10	45.45	12	54.55		18	43.90	23	56.10

High bone fracture risk (Positive) identified in: men with NTx >66.2 nmol BCE/mmol Cr; women with NTx>54.3 nmol BCE/mmol Cr

We used logistic regression models, stratified by gender, to quantify the association between kidney dysfunction and high bone fracture risk. The dependent variable in the models was bone fracture risk indicated by excess NTx (>66.2 nmol BCE/mmol Cr in men, and >89.0 nmol BCE/mmol Cr in women), while age, BMI, U-Cd, GFR, Cystatin C, β₂-MG, and FECa were modeled as the independent variables. Men and women with FECa>2% had odds of high bone fracture risk 6.03 and 3.29 times higher respectively, (Table 4) compared to gender-matched subjects with FECa<2%.

Table 4. Logistic regression analysis to determine the effect of renal injury on bone fracture risk after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, and urinary cadmium .

	Men			Women
	Adj. Odds	SE	P value	Adj. Odds	SE	P value
Age (yr)	1.034	0.028	0.232	0.966	0.020	0.073
Body mass index (kg/m2)	0.811	0.091	0.021	0.867	0.041	0.001
Smoking	3.390	0.499	0.014	1.592	0.317	0.143
U-Cd	6.536	0.871	0.031	3.875	0.578	0.019
GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2	0.426	0.564	0.130	0.695	0.322	0.258
Age (yr)	1.016	0.026	0.537	0.954	0.020	0.020
Body mass index (kg/m2)	0.806	0.091	0.017	0.856	0.042	0.001
Smoking	3.611	0.496	0.010	1.618	0.315	0.127
Urinary Cadmium (µg/g Cr)	6.270	0.861	0.033	3.938	0.577	0.018
Cystatin C >1.4 mg/l	0.828	0.501	0.707	1.337	0.412	0.482
Age (yr)	1.008	0.024	0.749	0.955	0.019	0.016
Body mass index (kg/m2)	0.811	0.091	0.022	0.860	0.041	0.001
Smoking	3.679	0.502	0.010	1.639	0.316	0.118
Urinary Cadmium (µg/g Cr)	5.089	0.881	0.065	3.768	0.581	0.022
Urinary β2-microglobulin >1,000 µg/g Cr	2.215	0.444	0.073	1.436	0.362	0.317
Age (yr)	1.000	0.025	0.999	0.961	0.019	0.038
Body mass index (kg/m2)	0.812	0.094	0.026	0.868	0.041	0.001
Smoking	2.914	0.515	0.038	1.559	0.323	0.169
Urinary Cadmium (µg/g Cr)	7.653	0.913	0.026	3.429	0.585	0.035
Fractional excretion of calcium >2%	6.029	0.544	<0.001	3.288	0.377	0.002

Discussion

Cadmium contamination in the Mae Sot region of Thailand has been reported since 2001²², and the exposed population has a high prevalence of proximal tubular dysfunction⁵. Cd disturbs bone metabolism via enhanced proximal tubular dysfunction¹³. An increased prevalence of osteoporosis in Cd-exposed populations with kidney dysfunction has been reported²³, however, glomerular dysfunction showed no association with reduced bone mass²⁴. The proposed mechanisms of Cd osteotoxicity included Cd accelerated bone resorption¹², inhibited incorporation of Ca ions into bone tissue, reduced Ca reabsorption from GI tract²⁵, enhanced wasting of Ca into urine²⁶, and decreased production of the active vitamin D metabolite, 1α,25(OH)₂D²⁷.

In this study, we used published biomarker reference levels to define renal pathology and bone metabolism imbalance. Glomerular dysfunction was indicated by GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m² body surface and cystatin C >1.4 mg/L. Cystatin C is recognized as a more accurate marker of glomerular dysfunction than serum creatinine²⁸. Proximal tubular dysfunction was indicated by β₂-MG >1000 µg/g Cr, a concentration that reflects irreversible proximal tubular dysfunction²⁰. Ca wasting was indicated by FECa >2 %²¹. Urinary NTx, a bone resorption marker, is measured to show the risk of bone fracture risk (cut-off value; men >66.2, and women >89.0 nmol BCE/mmol Cr).

Glomerular dysfunction and bone metabolism abnormalities were observed in chronic kidney disease patients. Specifically, reduced bone mass was associated with reduced glomerular filtration rate²¹. We identified a significant correlation between GFR and OC and NTx in both men and women (Table 2), indicating an association between glomerular dysfunction and bone remodeling. Serum cystatin C was also significantly correlated with OC in both genders. However, after classifying subjects according to bone fracture risk group and GFR or Cystatin C groups, no significant relationship between bone fracture risk and glomerular dysfunction was identified for either gender (Table 4). This result was in accordance with the report that the prevalence of osteoporosis did not relate to glomerular dysfunction²⁹.

The proximal tubule is an accumulation site of Cd and a key target site for Cd toxicity³⁰. Proximal tubular dysfunction occurs at an early stage of Cd intoxication³¹. β₂-MG is a low molecular weight protein reabsorbed by the proximal tubules. An elevated urinary β₂-MG indicates proximal tubular dysfunction. β₂-MG has been recommended as a sensitive marker for Cd toxicity³². We found a positive correlation between β₂-MG, OC, and NTx in both genders (Table 2). However, in logistic regression models, irreversible proximal tubular dysfunction did not relate to bone fracture risk (Table 4).

FECa levels greater than 2% indicate an impaired ability of the kidneys to reabsorb calcium back into the blood, which increases calcium wasting in the urine¹⁶. Increased calcium wasting was previously proposed as a sign of tubular damage and bone metabolism defects³³. Subjects with increased calcium wasting have a higher risk of osteoporosis³⁴. Calcium wasting into urine decreases serum calcium levels, causing the body to increase bone resorption to raise serum calcium³⁵. Figure 2 shows a positive correlation between FECa and NTx, a bone resorption marker, which supports this assumption. High levels of bone resorption are normally balanced by increasing bone formation³⁵, leading to high circulating levels of bone remodeling biomarkers. Here, we found a positive correlation between OC and FECa (Table 2). This result agrees with the finding that Itai-itai patients who showed increased Ca wasting and high rates of bone formation had low bone mineralization¹.

Figure 2.

The association between Urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) and Urinary cadmium (U-Cd) in men (a) and women (b)

When we quantified the relationship between biomarkers of kidney dysfunction and bone markers, FECa was a significant explanatory factor of bone fracture risk in both men and women (Table 4). FECa >2% increased bone fracture risk 6.03-fold in men and 3.29-fold in women. In contrast, GFR <60 ml/min/1.73m², Cystatin C >1.4 mg/l, and β₂-MG >1000 µg/g Cr showed no significant relation to bone fracture risk. Ca wasting contributes to bone fracture risk more than proximal tubular dysfunction and glomerular dysfunction.

The presence of Ca wasting is a key risk factor for Cd-induced abnormal bone remodeling. Serum Ca and urinary Ca are commonly used to determine the kidneys Ca control. However, serum Ca is normally tightly regulated in narrow range and urinary Ca is easily affected by dietary Ca¹⁷. Thus, serum and urinary Ca do not specifically indicate the Ca controlling function of kidney. FECa has significant advantages over both of these methods. FECa is used to indicate the percentage of Ca filtered at the glomerulus not reabsorbed in the tubules, a marker unaffected by dietary Ca. FECa has been proposed as a marker to indicate the early stages of renal dysfunction³⁶ and is also inexpensive to measure relative to Cystatin C and β2-MG. A linear relationship between FECa and reduced bone mass, provided further evidence for the utility of FECa as a biomarker in this context³⁶.

Women were previously proposed to be at higher risk for Cd osteotoxicity than men³⁷ but in this study men with high FECa had a bone fracture risk odds of 6.03 compared to low FECa men (P <0.001, Table 4). Evidence supporting a relationship between Cd exposure and elevated bone toxicity in men³⁸. Male rats with heavy Cd exposure showed low levels of bone mineralization, decreased bone mass, and high levels of bone remodeling markers relative to non-exposed rats²⁵. Men exposed to low levels of Cd also showed an inverse correlation between Cd exposure and bone mass³⁹. Therefore, the bone health of Cd-exposed men should be monitored in addition to that of women.

Conclusion

The half-life of Cd in the human body is more than 10 years²⁵. Cd related pathology appears in the elderly when the body cannot handle Cd toxicity. Since the Cd, contamination in the Mae Sot region of Thailand has not been fully remediated and further exposure continues, the inhabitants in this area continue to be at elevated risk of bone disease. Here, we found high bone fracture risk in study participants who showed FECa>2%. Calcium wasting was a dominant explanatory factor of bone fracture risk, showing the utility of monitoring this biomarker in Cd-exposed populations. Calcium supplements, renal toxicant exposure reduction, and regular health check-ups are essential preventive measures to reduce bone fracture risk in Cd-exposed populations. We recommended the use of FECa as an indicator of calcium wasting in Cd-exposed populations.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Asst. Prof. Dr. Justin Colacino for his kind of proofreading.

This research was supported by Kanazawa Medical University, Japan and Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Funding

Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Japan.

Highlights

• Calcium wasting was a cause of bone fracture risk in a cadmium-exposed population.

• Permanent proximal tubular dysfunction showed no relation to bone fracture risk.

• Fractional excretion of calcium was a good marker for the determination of calcium wasting.

Citation: Nambunmee K, Nishijo M, Swaddiwudhipong W, Ruangyuttikarn W. Bone Fracture Risk and Renal Dysfunction in a Highly Cadmium Exposed Thai Population. J Res Health Sci. 2018; 18(3): e00419.