Nighttime Road Traffic Noise Tied to Higher Cholesterol, Blood Lipid Levels

Follow Drugslib on

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2026 -- Nighttime road traffic noise exposure is associated with alterations in blood cholesterol and lipid profiles in adults, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of Environmental Research.

Yiyan He, from University of Oulu in Finland, and colleagues investigated the relationships between nighttime road traffic noise and 155 systemic metabolic biomarkers (including lipids, lipoproteins, fatty acids, and other low-molecular-weight metabolites). The analysis included 272,229 European adults (aged 31 years and older) identified from the U.K. Biobank, the Rotterdam Study, and the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

The researchers found that in the discovery analysis, nighttime road traffic noise (≥55 dB versus <45 dB) was associated with higher levels of 48 metabolites in the U.K. Biobank. In a meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis, associations for 20 metabolites remained robust. There was an association between noise (≥55 dB) and higher circulating concentrations of cholesterol-related biomarkers, including lipids in esterified cholesterol-enriched lipoproteins such as low-density lipoprotein and intermediate-density lipoprotein, as well as unsaturated fatty acids and membrane biomarkers. There was a monotonic exposure-response pattern for noise ≥50 dB and the biomarkers, except for two unsaturated fatty acids.

"Our findings suggest that nighttime traffic noise may subtly but consistently affect metabolic health," He said in a statement. "While the changes in cholesterol and lipid levels for any one individual are small, traffic noise affects a very large number of people, which means the potential public health impact could be substantial."

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2026-02-20 09:26

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords