Objectives
To evaluate whether differences in dietary intake of selected micronutrients are associated with the metabolism of inorganic arsenic (iAs).
Methods
The intake of 21 micronutrients was estimated for 1027 women living in northern Mexico using a food frequency questionnaire. Concentration of urinary metabolites of iAs was determined by high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) and the proportion of iAs metabolites was calculated (%iAs, monomethylarsonic acid [%MMA] and dimethylarsinic acid [%DMA]) as well as ratios corresponding to the first (MMA/iAs), second (DMA/MMA) and total methylation (DMA/iAs).
Results
After adjustment for covariates, it was found that methionine, choline, folate, vitamin B12, Zn, Se and vitamin C favor the elimination of iAs principally by decreasing the %MMA and/or increasing %DMA in urine.
Conclusions
Our results confirm that diet contributes to the efficiency of iAs elimination. Studies are needed to assess the feasibility of dietary interventions that modulate the metabolism of iAs and the consequent risk of diseases related to its exposure.
