ABSTRACT
Increased liver enzymes as a result of exposure to mercury and their toxic effects are not well understood in Korea at the population level. The effect of blood mercury concentration on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was evaluated after adjusting for sex, age, obesity, alcohol consumption habit, smoking, and exercise parameters in 3712 adults. The risk of abnormal liver function was measured using a multiple logistic regression analysis. Blood mercury concentration was divided into quartiles, and liver enzyme levels were compared for each quartile. ALT and AST levels were 10-20% higher in the second, third, and fourth quartiles compared to the first quartile. The risk of liver dysfunction or elevated liver enzymes was significantly higher in the second, third, and fourth quartiles than in the first quartile. As blood mercury levels increased, liver enzymes and mercury-induced hepatotoxicity increased. The increase in liver enzymes caused by mercury was more pronounced in the low-mercury concentration range. To reduce the long-standing problem of abnormal liver enzymes and liver function in Korea and other similar settings, it is important to decrease exposure to mercury through effective implementation of specific health and environmental strategies.
Subject(s)
Liver Diseases , Mercury , Adult , Humans , Alanine Transaminase , Aspartate Aminotransferases , Environmental Health , Liver , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Male , FemaleABSTRACT
[Objective] To observe the protective effect of Yugan Tablet (YT) on D-galactosamme-induced acute hepatic injury in mice. [ Methods ] Mice were randomly allocated to normal control group, model group, Ganpi Kang Capsule group and YT groups (low-, moderate- and high-dosage YT). Serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and albumin (ALB) and clotting time (CT) were examined to evaluate the effects of YT and Ganpi Kang Capsule on mice with D-galactosamine-induced acute hepatic injury. [Results] Serum level of AST was increased ( P
