ArticleInternational journal of hygiene and environmental health2021
Hair mercury levels, intake of omega-3 fatty acids and ovarian reserve among women attending a fertility center.
Article in International journal of hygiene and environmental health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Assessment of ovarian dysfunction induced by environmental toxins: a systematic review.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- The role of diet in the pathogenesis and management of premature ovarian insufficiency.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Environmental Chemicals as Modifiers of the Association between Age and Ovarian Reserve.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025Article
- Article
- Urinary phthalates, serum omega-3 fatty acids and ovarian reserve among women seeking fertility treatment.International journal of hygiene and environmental health · 2025Article
- Pregnancy urinary phenol biomarker concentrations in relation to serum levels of inflammatory cytokines: Results from the EARTH study.Environment international · 2025Article
- Effect Modification of Serum Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Associations between Urinary Phthalate Biomarkers Mixture and Pregnancy Outcomes among Women Seeking Fertility Care.Environmental health perspectives · 2025Article
- Associations between Non-Essential Trace Elements in Women's Biofluids and IVF Outcomes in Euploid Single-Embryo Transfer Cycles.Journal of xenobiotics · 2024Article
- Perceived stress and markers of ovarian reserve among subfertile women.Reproductive biomedicine online · 2023Observational
- Impact of Chemical Endocrine Disruptors and Hormone Modulators on the Endocrine System.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Comprehensive Review Regarding Mercury Poisoning and Its Complex Involvement in Alzheimer's Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo investigate the association of hair mercury (Hg) levels with antral follicle count (AFC), as a marker of ovarian reserve, and evaluate whether this relationship differed among women with high vs. low total intake of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3PUFA) from foods and supplements.
designWe included 353 women attending an academic fertility center (2007-2019) who had data on hair Hg levels, total n3PUFA intake, and AFC.
methodsHair Hg levels were assessed using a Direct Mercury Analyser, total n3PUFA intake was estimated using an extensively validated food frequency questionnaire, and AFC was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography. Poisson regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to evaluate the association of hair Hg levels (divided into tertiles, and as above vs below EPA reference (1 ppm)) with AFC. Associations were also evaluated after stratification by median n3PUFA intake (≤0.124% vs. >0.125% calories/week).
resultsWomen's median hair Hg level was 0.60 ppm (range = 0.001-8.60 ppm), with more than 30% > 1 ppm (EPA reference level). Hair Hg was positively related to AFC after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, infertility diagnosis, and alcohol intake. However, associations became attenuated after adjustment for intake of total n3PUFA. The positive associations of hair Hg and AFC were observed only among women above the median total n3PUFA intake. Specifically, women who consumed >0.125% calories/week of total n3PUFA had mean AFCs of 11.9, 13.2 and 14.1, respectively, across increasing tertiles of hair Hg (p,trend = 0.004). Similar results were found when hair Hg was divided above vs below EPA reference (mean AFC = 12.7 vs. 14.1, p = 0.008).
conclusionsIn these women, positive associations of hair Hg with AFC may be reflective of beneficial effects of n3PUFA on ovarian reserve rather than a beneficial effect of Hg per se. Our findings highlight the importance of considering diet when exploring Hg effects on women's reproductive health in urban settings.
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