Background: Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are persistent contaminants in cosmetics and consumer products in low-regulation markets. While vitamin D and B12 deficiencies among Iraqi women are often linked to lifestyle, the impact of environmental metal burdens remains under-studied. This study aims to measure serum Pb and Cd levels and quantify their relationship with vitamin D and B12 status among women in Babylon, Iraq.
Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 120 adult women. Serum Pb and Cd were measured using graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, while 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and B12 were measured via electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, linear regression, and ROC analysis with bootstrap 95% CIs.
Results: Mean concentrations were 0.191 ppm (Pb) and 0.038 ppm (Cd). For vitamin D, 11.7% of participants were deficient (<20 ng/mL) and 69.2% were insufficient. Additionally, 18.3% had B12 levels <300 pg/mL. Significant inverse correlations were found: Pb and 25(OH)D (r = -0.919, p < 0.001), explaining 84.5% of vitamin D variance, and Cd and B12 (r = -0.688, p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed Pb effectively classified vitamin D deficiency (AUC = 0.837).
Conclusion: Serum Pb and Cd levels are tightly and selectively associated with decreased 25(OH)D and B12 among women in Babylon. These findings suggest that heavy metal screening in consumer products should be a public health priority, as metal/vitamin triage can help identify women at high nutritional and environmental risk.