Detrimental Health Relationship Between Blood Cadmium and the Red Blood Cell Folate Level

Background and Aims: Increasing studies have demonstrated the association between heavy metal pollution and micronutrients, especially folate. However, the relationship between cadmium and folate remains rarely discussed. In this study, we aim to explore the potential correlation between cadmium and folate in human population, and highlight the possible mechanism of cadmium impacting on human health.Method and Results: We utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES) 2017-2018 data with 5690 participants in this study. Multivariable linear regression models were adopted to investigate the serum cadmium levels and RBC folate concentration. Gender differences in this correlation was also explored. A significant reverse relationship was found between serum cad-mium and RBC folate, either in male or female.Conclusions: A negative relationship between serum cadmium levels and levels of RBC folate either in male or female group in the U.S adult population was found in this study. Nevertheless, due to the general limitations of the NHANES data, as a cross-sectional study, further prospective investigation is needed to discover the causality of cadmium in folate status, and to determine whether or not the folate supplement have a beneficial influence against heavy metal toxicities.