Cadmium Body Burden clinical trials

Crabmeat and Health Study

The brown meat from crab may contain high levels of the heavy metal cadmium. Cadmium is found in the environment and long-term exposure can cause accumulation in the body. High cadmium levels can be toxic to the kidney and have been statistically associated with an increased risk of cancer in the lungs, endometrium, bladder, and breast. This study aims to investigate if regular consumers of brown crabmeat have a higher body burden of cadmium than nonconsumers. This is important as no other studies that have addressed this subject. The results of this research may provide guidance on the consumption of brown meat from crab. The hypothesis of the proposal is that regular habitual consumption of brown crabmeat increases the body burden of cadmium. This study will recruit 25 healthy participants who consume brown crab meat and 25 healthy participants who do not consume brown crab meat. Volunteers will be eligible if they are ages 40 years and older, non-smokers, and have not had significant occupational exposure to cadmium. Eligibility will be determined using a questionnaire that consenting volunteers will be asked to complete. Eligible participants will be asked to attend a study visit at the Rowett Institute or at a GP practice in Stromness (depending on participant location). Participants will be weighed and asked to provide a urine sample as well as a 40 ml (2-3 tbsp.) non-fasted blood sample. The blood and urine samples will be processed at the Rowett Institute or at the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall (depending on where the study visit took place). Analysis will be completed at the Rowett Institute where whole blood will be analysed for cadmium, selenium, and zinc and the serum for creatinine and ferritin. Urine samples will be measured for cadmium, B2-microglobulin and creatinine. Recruitment is expected to take place over 4 months. Study participants will have the option of receiving feedback on their cadmium, zinc, selenium and ferritin levels.