In adults, higher levels of multiple heavy metals in the blood, such as cadmium and mercury, are linked to small increases in measures of central body fat, compared to exposure to single metals.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When several toxic metals build up in the blood, they mess up how fat cells make energy, so the cells start storing more fat instead of burning it. This causes extra fat to collect around the waist and hips, more than what you'd expect from any single metal alone.
Most probable mechanism
When multiple toxic metals build up in the blood, they interfere with how fat cells produce and store energy, causing the cells to hold onto more fat and grow larger, especially around the waist and hips.
Cadmium and mercury bind to sulfhydryl groups in mitochondrial proteins, disrupting electron transport chain function and reducing ATP production.
Reduced cellular energy availability triggers compensatory upregulation of lipogenic enzymes and inhibits fatty acid oxidation, shifting metabolism toward lipid storage.
Adipocytes in visceral depots accumulate excess triglycerides due to impaired lipid mobilization and increased de novo lipogenesis, leading to hypertrophy and central fat distribution.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Associations between exposure to environmental pollutants, metabolic syndrome risk, and obesity-related anthropometric indices.
Contradicting (0)
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