Summary
Cross-sectional NHANES 2005-2020 analysis (N = 3,051; 1,511 males, 1,540 females) examining 11 urinary trace metals against 16 self-reported health conditions. Antimony was significantly associated with two outcomes specifically in females: thyroid problems (OR = 5.78, 95% CI 1.19-25.4, p = 0.027) and sleep disorders (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.08-22.1, p = 0.049). No significant Sb associations were found in males for any outcome. Urinary Sb was significantly lower in women than men (p less than 0.01).
Key numbers
Urinary Sb (microg/L), NHANES 2005-2020, N = 3,051:
- Male median: 0.05 microg/L (IQR 0.03-0.09)
- Female median: 0.04 microg/L (IQR 0.03-0.07)
- Sex difference: p less than 0.01
Associations with health outcomes (multivariable adjusted, Model 2):
- Thyroid problems, females: OR = 5.78 (95% CI 1.19-25.4, p = 0.027)
- Thyroid problems, males: OR = 0.24 (95% CI 0.04-1.42, not significant)
- Sleep disorders, females: OR = 1.80 (95% CI 1.08-22.1, p = 0.049)
- Sleep disorders, overall and males: not significant
- All other outcomes (heart disease, cancer, stroke, asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, etc.): not significant for Sb
WQS mixture: Sb was not a dominant contributor for any outcome in WQS models.
Evidence Fitness
Modeled or limited evidence. The wide confidence intervals for the thyroid finding (OR 5.78, 95% CI 1.19-25.4) indicate limited power and high uncertainty. Cross-sectional design; self-reported outcomes; single urinary Sb measurement.
Methods (brief)
NHANES 2005-2020, complex survey design. 11 urinary metals by ICP-MS. 16 health conditions by self-report. Logistic regression, three covariate models. WQS mixture analysis. Sex-stratified analyses.
Implications
- Certification: sex-specific thyroid and sleep associations for Sb in a large US sample; consistent with Sb’s estrogen-receptor agonist and thyroid-disrupting mechanisms, but confidence intervals are wide.
- Courses: illustrates sex-specific toxicity patterns and the importance of stratified analysis for endocrine disruptors.
- App: not applicable.
- Microbiome: not addressed.
Provenance notes
Open access, CC BY-NC. File from PMC OA S3 (PMC13153553).
Update history
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