Association of glyphosate exposure with multiple adverse outcomes and potential mediators

Glyphosate (GLY) is a widely used herbicide with potential adverse effects on public health. However, the current epidemiological evidence is limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential associations between exposure to GLY and multiple health outcomes. The data on urine GLY concentration and nine health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), hepatic steatosis, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and neurodegenerative diseases (NGDs), were extracted from NHANES (2013–2016). The associations between GLY exposure and each health outcome were estimated using reverse-scale Cox regression and logistic regression. Furthermore, mediation analysis was conducted to identify potential mediators in the significant associations. The dose-response relationships between GLY exposure with health outcomes and potential mediators were analyzed using restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression. The findings of the study revealed that individuals with higher urinary concentrations of GLY had a higher likelihood of having T2DM, hypertension, CVD and obesity (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). In the reverse-scale Cox regression, a notable association was solely discerned between exposure to GLY and the risk of T2DM (adjusted HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.36). Consistent outcomes were also obtained via logistic regression analysis, wherein the adjusted OR and 95% CI for T2DM were determined to be 1.30 (1.12, 1.52). Moreover, the present investigation identified serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) as a mediator in this association, with a mediating effect of 7.14% (p = 0.040). This mediating effect was further substantiated by RCS regression, wherein significant dose-response associations were observed between GLY exposure and an increased risk of T2DM (p = 0.002) and reduced levels of HDL (p = 0.001). Collectively, these findings imply an association between GLY exposure and an increased risk of T2DM in the general adult population.