Assessing the Association of Self-Reported Sleep Duration and Metabolic Syndrome Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey.

Objectives: We aim to investigate the correlation between sleep and metabolic syndrome (MS) among a community population 45 years of age and older in China. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 9096 participants from China health and longitudinal study was carried out. MS was defined by consensus criteria. Sleep durations were assessed by self-reported questionnaire. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MS were obtained using multivariable-adjusted regression analysis. Results: Long habitual daytime sleep had a positive influence on MS (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.10-2.06). For elderly, short daytime sleep significantly increased risk of MS (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.25-3.67). Females with long daytime sleep was associated with increased risk of MS (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.04-2.29). Conclusions: Daytime sleep significantly increased risk of MS for middle-aged and elderly Chinese. The hazard role of daytime sleep on MS was various between age and sex groups. Results of this study needed to be verified by future longitudinal studies.

Prevalence of hypertension in Shenzhen, China: a population-based, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension (HTN) is an important public health issue worldwide, associated with the rapid economic development and urbanisation over the last decades. This is especially the case in Shenzhen, which has benefited greatly from the reform and opening-up policies. However, there is limited information on the epidemiology of HTN in this region. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of HTN and the associated factors among adult residents in Shenzhen, China. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Through the multistage stratified random sampling method, a representative sample of 10 043 urban population aged ≥18 years were selected. Three consecutive blood pressure (BP) readings were measured after resting for a 5 min seat by trained staff and HTN was defined as mean systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg and/or self-reported current use of antihypertensive drugs. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric details, BP, blood and urine samples were also collected. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence of HTN. RESULTS: Overall, the weighted prevalence of HTN among residents in Shenzhen was 19.2% (95% CI 18.5 to 20.0). Among patients with HTN, 55.0% (95% CI 52.9 to 57.1) were aware of their condition and 44.9% (95% CI 42.8 to 47.1) were taking antihypertensive medications, but only 21.7% (95% CI 20.0 to 23.5) achieved BP control. Among those who knew their HTN, 81.7% (95% CI 79.3 to 83.8) were under treatment and 48.3% (95% CI 45.1 to 51.5) were controlled among those with treated HTN. Male, older age, lower educational level, overweight and obesity, family history of HTN, tobacco smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and high uric acid were associated with HTN. CONCLUSIONS: HTN is a major public health concern in Shenzhen, which has low awareness, treatment and control rates, and is associated with several risk factors. Effective multifaceted implementation strategies are highly needed to combat the emerging burden of HTN.

The willingness for dietary and behavioral changes in frontline epidemic prevention workers after experiencing the outbreak of COVID-19 in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a massive impact on public health, resulting in sudden dietary and behavioral habit changes. Frontline epidemic prevention workers play a pivotal role against COVID-19. They must face high-risk infection conditions, insufficient anti-epidemic material supplies, mental pressure, and so on. COVID-19 seriously affects their dietary and behavioral habits, and poor habits make them more susceptible to COVID-19. However, their baseline dietary and behavioral habits before COVID-19 and their willingness to change these habits after the outbreak of COVID-19 remain unclear for these workers in China. This study aimed to explore the baseline dietary and behavioral habits of frontline workers and their willingness to change these habits after the outbreak of the epidemic; in addition, susceptible subgroups were identified by stratified analyses as targets of protective measures to keep them from being infected with COVID-19. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire using a sample of 22,459 valid individuals living in China, including 9402 frontline epidemic prevention workers. RESULTS: Before COVID-19, 23.9% of the frontline epidemic prevention workers reported a high-salt diet, 46.9% of them reported a high frequency of fried foods intake, and 50.9% of them smoked cigarettes. After the outbreak of COVID-19, 34.6% of them expressed a willingness to reduce salt intake, and 43.7% of them wanted to reduce the frequency of pickled vegetables intake. A total of 37.9% of them expressed a willingness to decrease or quit smoking, and 44.5% of them wanted to increase sleep duration. Significant differences in the baseline dietary and behavioral habits and the willingness to change their habits were observed between frontline epidemic prevention workers and other participants. Among the frontline epidemic prevention workers with poor dietary and behavioral habits before COVID-19, frontline epidemic prevention experience was a promoting factor for adopting worse dietary and behavioral habits, including those in the high-salt intake subgroup (OR, 2.824; 95% CI, 2.341-3.405) and the 11-20 cigarettes/day subgroup (OR, 2.067; 95% CI, 1.359-3.143). CONCLUSIONS: The dietary and behavioral habits of frontline epidemic prevention workers were worse than that those of other participants before COVID-19. They had a greater willingness to adopt healthy dietary and behavioral habits after experiencing the outbreak of COVID-19. However, frontline epidemic prevention workers with poor dietary and behavioral habits before COVID-19 continued in engage in these poor habits. Dietary and behavioral intervention policies should be drafted to protect their health, especially frontline epidemic prevention workers with poor habits at baseline.

Responses to child sexual assaults and associated factors among parents of young children / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze the possible responses of parents of young children to Child sexual assault (CSA) and the potential influencing factors, so as to provide evidence for prevention programs of CSA.@*Methods@#Part of the data from "2016-2020 Child Injury Prevention Project" was used to analyze responses to CSA among parents of children younger than 3rd grade in primary school by chi square test and Logistic regression analysis.@*Results@#A total of 4 072 parents were included in the analysis. Among them, 86.8% of parents chose "to solve problems together", 51.0% of parents taking children to a "psychologist", 4.9% of parents "scolding children for being too careless", 2.9% of parents "letting child not disclose abuse" and 6.5% of parents chose "other" coping methods. Parents with foreign nationality [OR(95%CI)=2.58(1.25-5.15)] and lower education level (OR=0.26-0.64) tend to "blame" their children. Mothers [(OR(95%CI)=0.54(0.33-0.90)], higher parental education level (OR=0.27-0.72) were more reluctant to encourage their children to keep quiet. Mothers [OR(95%CI)=1.73(1.32-2.27)], older children (OR=1.33-1.78) and parents with higher education level (OR=1.65-2.99) tend to "accompany". Parents aged 30 or more, and from high school/technical school/technical secondary school tend to take their children to see a "psychologist" [OR(95%CI)=1.39(1.14-1.71), 1.79(1.26-2.53)].@*Conclusion@#Parents universally pay attention to the physical and mental health of children after CSA, but some parents still take negative coping methods, e.g. "blame" and "not disclose". Parenting educational level, duration of parent-child communication and age of children are primary factors associated with parental responses to child sexual assault. This study suggests that prevention secondary injury following child sexual assault should be farther strengthened, while fully considering the characteristics of the educated objects.

The association between subjective impact and the willingness to adopt healthy dietary habits after experiencing the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a cross-sectional study in China.

To investigate the associations between subjective perception of impacts and willingness to change dietary habits in China after experiencing the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an online questionnaire survey was carried out and 22,459 respondents in mainland China participated in the study, with an average age of 27.9±7.8 years old. Of them, 84.5% self-reported epidemic concern (middle or above), and 60.2%, 66.3% and 66.8% self-reported impact (middle or above) on psychology, life, work respectively. 31.9%, 46.0% and 41.0% of respondents reported their willingness to reduce their dietary intakes of salt, fried foods, and sugary foods, respectively. The stratified analysis of multinomial logistic regression models showed that, respondents with higher psychological impact were more likely to increase their dietary intake of salt, fried foods, sugary foods. Except as aforesaid, most respondents with higher epidemic concerns and higher impacts on psychology, life, work were more likely to reduce eating salt, fried foods, sugary foods. After the epidemic, early stage of positive improvement to a proper diet was observed, whereas the opposite tendency was also found in some respondents with higher impact on psychology. Thus, there is an urgent need for health care and lifestyle intervention policies for different subgroups.

BMI modified the association of current smoking with the incidence of hypertension in Chinese population: a 22-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There was little known on how the interaction effect between obesity and current smoking affected the incidence of hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate how body mass index (BMI) modified the effect of current smoking on the incidence of hypertension. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). According to the WHO recommendations for Chinese people, the normal weight, overweight, and obesity were defined using the BMI cutoff values 18.5 kg/m2, 23.0 kg/m2, and 27.5 kg/m, respectively. Current smokers were defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes or electronic cigarettes, 20 cigars, or 20 tobacco pipes and other type of tobacco in the last 30 days preceding the survey. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP)/ diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg, use of anti-hypertensive medications, or a self-reported diagnosis. RESULTS: This study included 12,900 subjects. There were interaction effects between obesity and current smoking in females (P = 0.030) and the 50-59 years group (P = 0.049). Current smoking was a significant predictor of incident hypertension only in the total and female populations with normal weight (HR: 1.119 and 1.274; HR 95% CI: 1.013-1.236 and 1.143-1.415; and P = 0.027 and 0.040, respectively). Stratified by age, current smoking affected the development of hypertension only in the 50-59 years subjects with the normal weight (HR: 1.356; HR 95% CI: 1.084-1.697; and P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Current smoking was a significant predictor of incident hypertension only in the female and middle-age populations with normal weight but not in the overweight and obesity as well as the younger and elder populations.

Association of exposure to Chinese famine in early life with the incidence of hypertension in adulthood: A 22-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Undernutrition in early life may have a lifelong effect on adult health. The conclusions on the association of exposure to famine with the risk of hypertension were inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the association of exposure to the Chinese famine with incident hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. All included participants were divided into five birth cohorts: no exposure, born in or after 1962 (N = 2 088); fetal exposure, between 1959 and 1961 (N = 880); early childhood exposure, between 1956 and 1958 (N = 1 214); mid-childhood exposure, between 1953 and 1955 (N = 1 287); and late childhood exposure, between 1949 and 1952 (N = 1 445). Hypertension was defined as SBP/DBP ≥140/90 mmHg, use of hypertensive medications, or a self-reported diagnosis. A total of 6 914 participants were included. The exposure to famine decreased the incidence of hypertension (P = 0.0018, 0.0001, <0.0001, and <0.0001; HR: 0.715, 0.686, 0.622, and 0.527, respectively) in males. Similarly, the exposure to famine might also decrease incident hypertension in the rural areas (P = 0.0013, <0.0001, <0.0001, and <0.0001; HR: 0.735, 0.706, 0.679, and 0.539, respectively). There were interaction effects between famine severity and exposure to famine in early (P = 0.024) and late childhood (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Exposure to the Chinese famine decreased the incidence of hypertension, especially in males and in the rural areas. Furthermore, the exposure postponed the age at the onset of hypertension.

Subclinical thyroid disease and single nucleotide polymorphisms in reproductive-age women in areas of Shanxi Province, China, where iodine exposure is excessive.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: When iodine intake is in excess, a susceptible population that has a genetic predisposition will have an increased risk of hypothyroidism or autoimmune thyroiditis. This study evaluated the vulnerability to iodine excess and subclinical thyroid disease through screening of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in reproductive-age women to provide evidence to be used for the prevention of subclinical thyroid disease. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In Shanxi province, four areas where a range of iodine exposures from low to high were chosen in each region, 60 women were anticipated to enrol, including 20 pregnant women, 20 lactating women, and 20 non-pregnant, non-lactating women. Genotyping was performed using whole-blood samples, and the genotypes of 21 SNPs were determined and compared among areas with different water iodine and between controls and patients with subclinical thyroid disease. RESULTS: In total, 241 participants were enrolled. Among the 21 candidate SNPs, no difference was found among areas with various water iodine, whereas, TG (rs2252696), TSHR (rs4903957), CTLA-4 (rs231775), CAPZB (rs1472565), PDE4D (rs27178), and HLA (rs2517532) were significantly associated with various subclinical thyroid diseases; in particular, the PDE4D (rs27178), ad hoc TT allele, was associated with all examined subclinical thyroid diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerability to subclinical thyroid diseases is influenced by the presence of gene polymorphisms. There is a need for screening of suspected genes to effectively prevent and reduce the occurrence of thyroid diseases. People with the TT allele in PDE4D (rs27178) should be made aware of an increased risk of subclinical thyroid disease.

Assessment of iodine status in children, adults, pregnant women and lactating women in iodine-replete areas of China.

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are widespread in China. Presently, IDD have been put under control by Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) in China; however, there is a lack of evidence on whether the iodine status in adults, pregnant women and lactating women is optimal. This study was therefore conducted to assess the iodine nutrition and thyroid function of children, adults, pregnant women and lactating women residing in areas where the USI program is fully established. DESIGN: Six areas were selected according to the geographical regions in China. In each of these areas, we selected 4 distinct groups of subjects (children, adults, pregnant women and lactating women) in regions where the coverage rate of iodised salt was more than 95% and the levels of iodine and fluoride in drinking water were less than or equal to 10 µg/L and 1 mg/L, respectively. We tested the iodine content of salt, urinary iodine (UI), free thyroxin (FT4), thyrotropin (TSH), thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab) and antimicrosomal antibody (TM-Ab) in the 4 groups, and examined the thyroid volume in children. RESULTS: The median urinary iodine (MUI) concentrations were 271.4 µg/L, 260.2 µg/L, 205.9 µg/L and 193.9 µg/L in children, adults, pregnant women and lactating women, respectively; MUI in children and adults were more than adequate. The goitre prevalence (GP) in children was 6.70%. The odds ratios (OR) of subclinical hypothyroidism in the Tg-Ab- or TM-Ab-positive groups were 3.80, 7.65, 2.01 and 7.47 for children, adults, pregnant women and lactating women, respectively, compared with the negative groups. CONCLUSIONS: The iodine status in children and adults is above the requirement, we should reduce their iodine intake. Subclinical hypothyroidism easily occurs in the Tg-Ab or TM-Ab positive groups.

Determination of nine environmental phenols in urine by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A method was developed to determine nine environmental phenols, including bisphenol A, 2,3,4-trichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxyphenylether), 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol, 4-n-nolyphenol and benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone) in human urine using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS). The analytes were extracted and preconcentrated with solid-phase extraction, and then quantified with UPLC-electrospray ionization (negative ion mode)-MS-MS using multiple reaction monitoring mode. Limits of detection of the nine phenols ranged from 0.02 to 0.90 ng/mL. This method was further validated by the determination of phenols in 325 human urine samples that generated data regarding the exposure of various phenols to Chinese adults without occupational exposure to phenols.

Reproductive hormones in relation to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites among non-occupational exposure of males.

A limited number of studies have suggested that exposure to PAHs may affect reproductive hormones. Subjects (n=642) in this study were from the affiliated hospitals of Nanjing Medical University. Individual exposures to PAHs were measured as spot urinary concentrations of four PAH metabolites, including 1-naphthol (1-N), 2-naphthol (2-N), 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OF) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OP), which were adjusted by urinary creatinine (CR). Blood samples were collected to measure serum levels of reproductive hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotrophic hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL). All of the subjects had detectable levels of the four metabolites of PAHs in their urine samples. The median concentrations of 1-N, 2-N, 2-OF and 1-OP were 2.440, 4.176, 2.843 and 1.148 microg/g of CR. There were significant P-values between increased CR-adjusted 1-N tertiles and E2 concentration, 2-OF tertiles and LH, FSH level, 1-OP and E2 level. The multivariate linear regression results also showed significant correlation between the levels of serum LH and 1-OP (the adjusting P-value was 0.048), but no correlations were found between other hormones and the level of PAH metabolites. These observed correlations between levels of hydroxy-PAH and some altered hormones indicated slight endocrine effects on adult men with PAH exposure.

Relationship between urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and thyroid hormone levels in Chinese non-occupational exposure adult males.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous global pollutants. Limited studies suggested that PAH may interfere with thyroid function in animals, but little is known about humans. A population of 480 Chinese males was recruited. Using LC-MS/MS, four urinary metabolites of PAH including 1-hydroxynaphthalene (1-N), 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-N), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-P) and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-F) were measured in spot urinary samples, which were adjusted by urinary creatinine (CR). Blood samples were collected for measuring serum levels of thyroid hormones including total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The median CR-adjusted urine PAH concentrations of 1-N, 2-N, 1-P, 2-F were 2.306, 4.047, 1.155 and 2.899 microg g(-1) of CR, respectively. Significant p-values for trend were found for men with higher 2-F tertiles and were more likely to possess high-reference TSH levels. In addition, the multivariate linear regression models showed significant positive correlations for TSH levels with increased CR-adjusted 2-F concentration. No significant associations were found between other thyroid hormones levels and PAH metabolite concentrations. These results indicated that PAH exposure might be related to altered male thyroid hormone levels, but further study is needed to confirm these observed findings.

The relationship of 3-PBA pyrethroids metabolite and male reproductive hormones among non-occupational exposure males.

Many pesticides possess hormonal activities and have been classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Synthetic pyrethroids are one kind of the most common pesticides used in the world. In the present study, we explored the association between serum reproductive hormone levels and urinary creatine (CR) adjusted concentration of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a general metabolite of pyrethroids, in Chinese adult men. The study subjects (n=212) were from the affiliated hospitals of Nanjing Medical University. By using GC-MS, urinary 3-PBA level of each subject was measured and adjusted by urinary CR. Blood samples were collected for measuring the serum levels of reproductive hormones, including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL). All the subjects had detectable levels of 3-PBA in their urine samples. The median concentration of 3-PBA was 0.815 microg g (-1)of CR. The results showed that there was positive associations between the levels of serum LH and 3-PBA (p=0.013) but negative associations between E2 and 3-PBA level (p=0.022), and the adjusting p-value was 0.044 for LH and E2, which suggested that pyrethroids are capable of disrupting the male endocrine function. In adult men, urinary 3-PBA levels were associated with increased LH and reduced E2 levels. On a population level, these reductions show potential public health importance because of widespread exposure to these pesticides.

Preventive effects of quercetin against benzo[a]pyrene-induced DNA damages and pulmonary precancerous pathologic changes in mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of quercetin against benzo[a]pyrene-induced blood lymphocyte DNA damages and pulmonary precancerous pathologic changes in mice, and to reveal the potential mechanism behind these effects. In this study, mice in quercetin-treated groups were given quercetin for 90 days. After one week of treatment, mice in the quercetin-treated groups and the positive control group received a single intraperitoneal dose of benzo[a]pyrene (100 mg/kg body weight). The results of single cell gel electrophoresis assay showed that the average lengths of the comet cell tail and DNA damage in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice induced by benzo[a]pyrene decreased significantly as a result of quercetin treatment dose-dependently. Light microscopic examination showed that the degrees of pulmonary precancerous pathologic changes in the quercetin-treated groups decreased significantly compared with those in the positive control group. Meanwhile, the cytochrome P4501A1-linked 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activities in lung microsomes of mice decreased as the dose of quercetin increased. The results of this in vivo study revealed that quercetin had a significant preventive effect on benzo[a]pyrene-induced DNA damage, and had a potential chemopreventive effect on the carcinogenesis of lung cancer induced by benzo[a]pyrene. The mechanism of these effects of quercetin could be related to the inhibition of cytochrome P4501A1 activity.

[Effects of fenvalerate on reproductive and endocrine systems of male rats].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impairment of fenvalerate on reproductive and endocrine systems and clarify the mechanism of action. METHODS: Different doses of fenvalerate (0, 2, 4, 12, 60 mg/kg) were orally treated to the adult male SD rats for 15 days and 30 days, respectively. The levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone(T) and testis homogenate T were determined by radioimmunoassay(RIA). Besides, the activity of testicular marked enzymes such as acid phosphatases(ACP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(gamma-GT) were examined, and sperm head counts were measured to explain the changes of daily sperm production(Spr). RESULTS: In fifteen days, serum FSH levels markedly increased in rats exposed to fenvalerate of < or = 12 mg/kg groups(P < 0.01) and serum levels of LH increased in 12 mg/kg group(P < 0.01). In addition, T levels in testis homogenates decreased after treated with the doses of > or = 12 mg/kg groups compared with the control group(P < 0.01). In thirty days, serum contents of FSH were significantly elevated in the doses of > or = 12 mg/kg groups(P < 0.01) and homogenate levels of T were diminished in the low dose group(2.4 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). Activity of ACP increased in 12 mg/kg group after fifteen days(P < 0.05) and was restrained in the high dose group(60 mg/kg) in thirty days(P < 0.05), but the contents of gamma-GT were arrested with different doses dependently in the testis(P < 0.05). Fenvalerate caused dose-dependent reduction in sperm head counts and daily sperm production, which markedly reduced at the doses of > or = 12 mg/kg groups(P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Fenvalerate has obvious reproductive toxicity on male rats and can change their serum and testis homogenate levels of sex hormone or activity of testicular marked enzymes, which may be correlated with the impairment of Sertoli cell and spermatogenic epithelium.

[Effects of exposure to aluminum on some metal elements contents in hippocampus of rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of exposure to aluminum (Al) on Zn, Fe, Cu and Ca contents in hippocampus of rats. METHODS: AlCl(3).6H(2)O was administered orally through diet (8% of body weight) to SD rats at doses of 0 (A), 11.2 (B), 55.9 (C), 111.9 (D) mg Al(3+)/kg BW for successive 90 days. Then Al, Zn, Fe, Cu and Ca contents in hippocampi of rats were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: After oral exposure to Al, the Al content in hippocampus of rat increased significantly with a remarkable dose-effect relationship (r = 0.731, P < 0.001), The Zn, Fe, Ca and Cu contents in these four groups are as follows: Group A (18.29 +/- 2.48, 24.86 +/- 1.97, 48.69 +/- 22.08, 4.53 +/- 0.99) mg/g, Group B (17.22 +/- 2.06, 27.54 +/- 2.87, 42.79 +/- 14.42, 4.06 +/- 0.41) mg/g, Group C (14.46 +/- 1.90, 20.18 +/- 2.79, 29.95 +/- 7.33, 3.98 +/- 0.25) mg/g, Group D (15.85 +/- 2.54, 20.96 +/- 2.83, 36.14 +/- 12.66, 4.53 +/- 0.58) mg/g. Compared with the control group A, the Zn and Fe contents in group B and group C decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the Ca content in group C also decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Oral exposure to Al may result in accumulation of Al in hippocampus of brain and thus affect some essential elements (Zn, Fe, Cu and Ca) contents in the hippocampus at different degrees.