ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Environmental Health and Exposome
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1613435
Volatile organic compounds exposure associated with sarcopenia in US adults from NHANES 2011-2018
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, NO. 946 Hospital of PLA land Force, 835000 Yining, China, Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- 3Trauma Neurosurgery, NO. 946 Hospital of PLA land Force, Yining, Xinjiang, Yining,Xinjiang, China
- 4Hand and foot microsurgery, NO. 946 Hospital of PLA land Force, 835000 Yining, China, Xinjiang, China
- 5School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China., Beijing, China., China
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Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emerging environmental pollutants linked to various health problems. However, the relationship between exposure to urinary volatile organic compound metabolites (mVOCs) and sarcopenia remains unclear. Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2011(NHANES -2018) ) to assess the association between mVOCs and sarcopenia through multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression. We also employed Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression model, a highdimensional statistical approach used to evaluate the joint effects of multiple exposures, and Bayesian Kernel Machine regression (BKMR) model, a combination of Bayesian and statistical learning methods, to assess the mixture effects of mVOCs on sarcopenia risk. These methods account for nonlinearity, collinearity, and dimensionality in exposure data. Mediation analysis was used to identify metabolic, endocrine, and inflammatory mediators in these associations. Subgroup analyses were conducted by gender and age. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify potential pathways and targets. Results: A total of 2,898 participants were included, with 145 (8%) diagnosed with sarcopenia. Logistic regression showed a positive correlation between mVOCs (3,4-MHA, ATCA, CEMA, CYMA, 2HPMA, 3HPMA, MHBMA3, and PGA) and sarcopenia. RCS results confirmed linear dose-response associations (P for overall <0.05, P for nonlinear ≥ 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated stronger associations in older participants. The WQS and BKMR models consistently showed a positive link between VOC exposure and sarcopenia. Mediation analysis identified alkaline phosphatase, white blood cell count, systemic immune-inflammation index, and vitamin D as mediators. Network analysis revealed significant enrichment in the endocrine resistance pathway. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that co-exposure to VOCs is associated with increased sarcopenia risk, potentially through disruption of endocrine and inflammatory
Keywords: Volatile Organic Compounds, Sarcopenia, Weighted quantile sum regression, Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression, network pharmacology analysis
Received: 17 Apr 2025; Accepted: 20 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Chen, Fang, Xu, Zhao and Huang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Pangbo Wang, Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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