Association between pyrrolizidine alkaloids exposure and risk of abnormal serum indices—Insights from a descriptive cross-sectional study in Yunnan Province

The hazard of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) has been widely reported in animal studies but rarely in population-based research, especially reports about daily exposure. A single-centre descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 552 Lahu Autonomous County residents recruited in 2021. Blood PAs exposure biomarker (pyrrole- protein adduct, PPA) and serum biochemical indices were measured. The prevalence of abnormal serum indices and PAs exposure in this region were elucidated using descriptive analyses. 75 % of Lahu Autonomous County participants were exposed to PAs. PAs exposure risk in males was lower than in females (OR=0.357, 95 % CI: 0.222-0.574), and varied with the ethnicity of Lahu Autonomous County. PPA concentration was positively correlated with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity (r=0.6263, P