Depression, changes in peripheral blood cell count, and changes in selected biochemical parameters related to lead concentration in whole blood (Pb-B) of women in the menopausal period

Joanna Owsianowska; Magdalena Sylwia Kamińska; Mateusz Bosiacki; Dariusz Chlubek; Beata Karakiewicz; Anna Jurczak; Marzanna Stanisławska; Katarzyna Barczak; Elżbieta Grochans

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126501

Depression, changes in peripheral blood cell count, and changes in selected biochemical parameters related to lead concentration in whole blood (Pb-B) of women in the menopausal period

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2020 Mar 31:61:126501. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126501. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Joanna Owsianowska¹, Magdalena Sylwia Kamińska², Mateusz Bosiacki³, Dariusz Chlubek⁴, Beata Karakiewicz⁵, Anna Jurczak⁶, Marzanna Stanisławska⁷, Katarzyna Barczak⁸, Elżbieta Grochans⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Specialized Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: jowsian@pum.edu.pl.
² Subdepartment of Long-Term Care, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: magdalena.kaminska@pum.edu.pl.
³ Department of Functional Diagnostics and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 56 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: bosiacki.m@pum.edu.pl.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 72 Powstańców Wielkopolskich St., 70-111, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: dchlubek@pum.edu.pl.
⁵ Subdepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: beata.karakiewicz@pum.edu.pl.
⁶ Department of Specialized Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: anna.jurczak@pum.edu.pl.
⁷ Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: stamarz@pum.edu.pl.
⁸ Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pomeranian Medical University, 72 Powstańców Wielkopolskich St., 70-111, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.barczak@pum.edu.pl.
⁹ Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska St., 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: grochans@pum.edu.pl.

PMID: 32289550
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126501

Abstract

The aim: The aim of this study was to assess the severity of depression, vasomotor symptoms, changes in peripheral blood cell count, and selected biochemical parameters in relation to the concentration of lead in whole blood of women in the perimenopausal period.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 233 women from the general population of the West Pomeranian Province (Poland) in age between 44-65 years. The intensity of menopausal symptoms was examined using the Blatt-Kupperman Index, and the severity of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory. The following biochemical data were evaluated: concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, HDL, C-reactive protein, glycated haemoglobin, cortisol, insulin, blood cell count, and lead concentration in whole blood (Pb-B).

Results: A whole blood Pb concentration below 5 μg/dl was found in 55 subjects (23.61 %), in 142 women (60.94 %) it ranged from 5 to 10 μg/dl, while in 36 women (15.45 %) was higher than 10 μg/dl. There was a strong positive correlation between Pb concentration in the blood of the examined women and the severity of depressive symptoms (Rs=+0.60, p = 0.001). The lowest mean values for total leukocytes (5.07 ± 1.22 thousand/μl) and neutrophils (2.76 ± 0.86 thousand/μl) were found in women with Pb concentration above 10 μg/dl (p < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between the number of total leukocytes (r=-0.45, p = 0.002) and neutrophils (r=-0.50, p = 0.001) and blood Pb concentration. Analysis showed statistically significant differences in glucose concentration (p < 0.05) between groups. Blood glucose was higher in women with Pb-B <5 and between 5-10 μg/dl than in women with Pb-B >10 μg/dl.

Conclusion: Exposure to Pb may be a factor playing a significant role in the development of depressive symptoms in menopausal women. It may also be associated with glucose metabolism disorders and immunosuppression in women during this period of life.

Keywords: Depression; Menopause; Pb-B; Women’s health.