RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD LEAD AND NUTRITIONAL FACTORS IN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships b etween selected nutritional factors and blood lead levels of preschool children. Methodology. Data on 296 children, aged 9 to 72 months, who were cared for at the University of Maryland at Baltimore Pediatric A mbulatory Center were examined in this cross-sectional study. Nutritio nal status, socioeconomic aspects, medical history, and potential sour ces of lead exposure were assessed. Blood samples were evaluated for l evels of blood lead, serum iron (ferritin), free erythrocyte photoporp hyrin, calcium, and hematocrit. Results. The average blood lead level was 11.4 mu g/dL. Multicollinearity of nutritional factors was address ed using regression techniques. After adjusting for confounders, signi ficant positive associations with blood lead were found for total calo ric intake (P = .01) and dietary fat (P = .05). Conclusions. The findi ngs of this study suggest that even when behavioral and environmental exposures to lead were statistically controlled, total caloric intake and dietary fat each had an independent and significant association wi th the level of blood lead.