Renal function is associated with indicators of arsenic methylation capacity in Bangladeshi adults

Arsenic (As) methylation capacity in epidemiologic studies is typically indicated by the proportions of inorganic As (%InAs), monomethylarsonic acid (%MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (%DMA) in urine as a fraction of total urinary As. The relationship between renal function and indicators of As methylation capacity has not been thoroughly investigated. Objectives: Our two aims were to examine (1) associations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and %As metabolites in blood and urine, and (2) whether renal function modifies the relationship of blood %As metabolites with respective urinary %As metabolites.

Urinary excretion of InAs may be impaired in individuals with reduced renal function. Alternatively, increased As methylation capacity (as indicated by decreased urinary %InAs) may be detrimental to renal function.

In a cross-sectional study of 375 As-exposed Bangladeshi adults, we measured blood and urinary As metabolites, and calculated eGFR from plasma cystatin C.

In covariate-adjusted linear models, a 1 ml/min/1.73 m(2) increase in eGFR was associated with a 0.39% increase in urinary %InAs (p<0.0001) and a mean decrease in urinary %DMA of 0.07 (p=0.0005). In the 292 participants with measurable blood As metabolites, the associations of eGFR with increased blood %InAs and decreased blood %DMA did not reach statistical significance. eGFR was not associated with urinary or blood %MMA in covariate-adjusted models. For a given increase in blood %InAs, the increase in urinary %InAs was smaller in those with reduced eGFR, compared to those with normal eGFR (p=0.06); this effect modification was not observed for %MMA or %DMA. Conclusions: Urinary excretion of InAs may be impaired in individuals with reduced renal function. Alternatively, increased As methylation capacity (as indicated by decreased urinary %InAs) may be detrimental to renal function.