Association Between Urinary Rare Earth Element Levels and Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study in the Minority Population of Guangxi in China.

Understanding the association between exposure to rare earth elements and metabolic syndrome and its components will not only help physicians better assess health risks but also help prevent and control the occurrence and development of metabolic syndrome. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between rare earth elements (REEs) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: We used a cross-sectional design based on the baseline data of the Prospective Cohort Study of Chronic Diseases in Ethnic Minority Natural Population in Guangxi in China. Logistic regression and BKMR models were employed to evaluate the association between REEs and risk of MetS. Results: Although REEs were not significantly associated with MetS, certain elements such as La, Pr, and Nd were negatively associated with abdominal obesity, whereas Ce, Pr, Nd, and Dy were positively associated with hypertension. BKMR models suggested a U-shaped relationship between mixed REEs and MetS, with varying effects on abdominal obesity and high blood pressure. Conclusions: This study suggests that exposure to REEs may be associated with a reduced risk of abdominal obesity and an increased risk of high blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]