Hair levels of mercury, lead, and cadmium and their association with glycemic control in Egyptian children with type 1 diabetes

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BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition potentially influenced by environmental factors, including exposure to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study (n = 62) was conducted between March 2020 and March 2022 to evaluate the relationship between PTEs exposure and glycemic control in Egyptian children with T1D. METHODS: Hair samples were analyzed for potentially toxic elements (PTE) concentrations using ICP-MS. Clinical and environmental data, including dietary habits and parental smoking, were collected. RESULTS: Among participants, 82.3% had elevated lead levels, and 53.2% had elevated cadmium levels. Children with poor glycemic control had significantly higher mean hair lead concentrations (39.6 mg/kg) compared to those with good control (6.3 mg/kg; p = 0.011; 95% CI: 25.2-40.7). A moderate positive correlation was found between lead levels and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r = 0.41, p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.20-0.59). Mercury levels were associated with fish intake but not glycemic status. Cadmium levels were linked to parental smoking but not to HbA1c levels. CONCLUSION: Children with type 1 diabetes in this cohort exhibited significant levels of exposure to heavy metals, particularly lead and mercury. Elevated levels of these metals were associated with poorer glycemic control as indicated by higher HbA1c values. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring environmental exposures in pediatric diabetes management.

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