Cadmium – a novel risk factor for cardiovascular? Multi-omics and machine learning studies in population-based cohorts

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential toxic metal with a half-life of 20-40-years in human body. The main source of Cd is diet and smoking. Recent experimental studies and population studies from our group show that Cd in blood is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death, even at low concentrations found in Swedish never smokers.

Our aim during 2021-2023 is to continue exploring the role of Cd for atherosclerosis and impaired vascular function. In addition to traditional epidemiological methods, multi-omics strategies (metabolomics, genomics, lipidomics) and machine learning techniques will be used in Malmö diet and cancer (MDC) and Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS), two cohorts with extensive information from cardiovascular examinations and analyses of biomarkers.

Mendelian Randomization techniques will be used to explore potential causal relationships between Cd and CVD and its risk factors.

Cd is associated with CVD even at concentrations commonly found in Sweden. The whole population is exposed through dietary intake of vegetables and fiber. Since exposure of Cd is preventable, the proposed studies are very important from a public health perspective.