Effect of Pb-exposure and B vitamin deficiencies on δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity among workers from Pb recycling plants

• Published in: Journal of biological inorganic chemistry 2024-04, Vol.29 (3), p.375-383
• Main Authors: Adepu, Vinay Kumar, Kumar, H. S. Santosh, Ravibabu, Kalahasthi, Nagaraju, Raju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aminolevulinic acid; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blood levels; Hematocrit; Hematology; Humans; Lead; Lead - blood; Life Sciences; Lifestyles; Male; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Multiple regression analysis; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Original Paper; Porphobilinogen Synthase - blood; Porphobilinogen Synthase - metabolism; Recycling; Vitamin B; Vitamin B Complex - blood; Vitamin B Deficiency - blood; Vitamin B12; Vitamin B6; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 1432-1327; 0949-8257; 1432-1327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00775-023-02042-w

Previous studies reported that Pb exposure causes a negative association with delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (δ-ALAD), but the impact of Pb exposure (dose and time), B vitamin deficiencies, and lifestyle factors needs to be explored. In this study, the impact of Pb exposure, B vitamin deficiencies, and lifestyle factors on δ-ALAD activity among workers exposed to Pb from the Pb-recycling process was evaluated. Blood lead levels (BLLs), B vitamins (B6, B9, and B12), hematological factors (Hb% and HCT), lifestyle factors, and δ-ALAD activity was assessed in 170 male Pb-exposed workers engaged in the Pb recycling process. BLLs are estimated using the ICP-OES method. B vitamins in serum samples from workers were determined using the ELISA method. The δ-ALAD activity in whole blood samples was determined using the spectrophotometer method. The lifestyle factors were collected using a standard questionnaire. The δ-ALAD activity was significantly decreased in workers with the habits of alcohol use, tobacco consumption, hematocrit  50 µg/dL. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the independent variables of alcohol consumption (β = − 0.170; P = 0.025), BLLs (β = − 0.589; P = 0.001) and Hb% (β = 0.183; P = 0.001) significantly influenced the δ-ALAD activity with 44.2% (R 2  = 0.442). Among the workers exposed to Pb from the Pb recycling plant, δ-ALAD activity was considerably reduced by Pb exposure, B vitamin deficiency, hematological parameters, and lifestyle factors. Graphical Abstract