Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41492831›Full record

ArticleJournal of Korean medical science2026

Sequential Mediation by Maternal Weight Gain and Late Blood Metal Concentration in the Association Between Heavy Metal Exposure in Early Pregnancy and Fetal Growth.

Seung-Ah Choe, Jue Seong Lee, Changmin Kang, Jungheum Jo, Wonsuck Yoon, Dae Jin Song, Young Yoo, Ko-CHENS Study Group

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of Korean medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Seung-Ah ChoeDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6270-5020
Jue Seong LeeDepartment of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1803-4682
Changmin KangDepartment of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5670-3635
Jungheum JoEnvironmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1925-9499
Wonsuck YoonAllergy Immunology Center, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7665-7629
Dae Jin SongDepartment of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0647-3186
Young YooDepartment of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3354-6969
Ko-CHENS Study Group

Funding

Korea University Medical CollegeNational Institute of Environmental Research NIER-2019-03-01-001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo assess the mediation effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) and blood heavy metal levels in the late pregnancy affecting the association between early pregnancy metal exposure and fetal growth.

methodsWe analyzed data from Korean Children's Environmental Health Study cohort comprising 4,712 full-term births. Blood levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) during pregnancy, and newborn birthweights were retrieved. We applied single-exposure model to assess the association between heavy metal levels and newborn anthropometric measures and conducted path analyses to examine the direct and indirect effects of heavy metal levels in early pregnancy on newborn measures.

resultsExposure to Pb (β = -15.470,

conclusionThe effect of Pb exposure in early pregnancy on birthweight was mediated by GWG and Pb exposures during late pregnancy. When assessing the impact of heavy metal exposure on birthweight, it is important to note that GWG and late heavy metal levels act as mediators, rather than confounders.

Indexed as

Fetal DevelopmentGestational Weight GainMaternal ExposureMetals, HeavyAdultBirth WeightCadmiumCohort StudiesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornLeadMercuryPregnancyCadmiumLeadMercuryMetals, HeavyBirthweightCadmiumGestational Weight GainLeadMediationMercuryPregnancy

Identifiers

PMID41492831
PMCPMC12775906

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.