Lower blood malondialdehyde is associated with past pesticide exposure: findings in Gulf War illness and healthy controls

Mil Med Res. 2021 Aug 17;8(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s40779-021-00337-0.

Abstract

Background: Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a candidate general marker of oxidative stress (OS). We sought to assess the relation of MDA to Gulf War illness (GWI) and to a variety of exposures.

Methods: This is an observational study involving subjects from Southern California recruited from October 2011 to May 2014. MDA was assessed in 81 participants (41 GWI-cases, 40 controls). General and Gulf-specific exposures were elicited. MDA case-control comparison was restricted to 40 matched pairs. The potential association between MDA and exposures was assessed using regression analyses. Gulf-specific exposures were incorporated into a case-specific model.

Results: Plasma MDA was significantly lower in GWI-cases than controls. Composite pesticide and fuel-solvent exposures negatively predicted MDA in the total sample, as well as in the analyses that included either GWI-cases or controls only. Self-reported exposure to organophosphate (OP) nerve gas was a strong predictor for lower MDA level in veterans with GWI.

Conclusion: Past pesticide exposures predicted lower MDA in both veterans with GWI and in healthy controls.

Keywords: Free radical; Gulf War illness; Gulf War veterans; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative stress; Pesticide.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • California / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / analysis*
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Persian Gulf Syndrome / blood*
  • Persian Gulf Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Pesticides / adverse effects*
  • Pesticides / pharmacology
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Pesticides
  • Malondialdehyde