Pollutants in the Body Contribute to Diabetes Risk
A strong dose-response relationship between serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and diabetes: results from the National Health and Examination Survey, 1999-2002, by D.-H. Lee and colleagues. Diabetes Care 29:1638-1644, 2006.
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Being exposed to “persistent organic pollutants” can possibly raise one’s risk for diabetes.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals used as pesticides, chemicals used by industry, or are industrial byproducts. These types of pollutants are absorbed in fatty tissue and concentrate in plants and animals through a process called “bioaccumulation.” Humans are high up the food chain and so absorb the greatest concentrations of POPs.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to see if lifestyle change affects arterial thickening.
Who was studied?
More than 2,000 adults who took part in the National Health and Examination Survey.
How was the study done?
The researchers examined the data, blood samples, and urine samples of selected people who took part in the survey to see if there was link between levels of six different pollutants and diabetes risk.
What did the researchers find?
People who had detectable levels of the six pollutants in their bodies were more likely to have diabetes than people who didn’t have detectable levels of the pollutants in their bodies. For two of the pollutants, the risk of having diabetes was strikingly higher.
What were the limitations of the study?
The design of the study requires that the results are interpreted with caution. The dataset from the survey did not distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Misclassification bias was also possible in this study. Diabetes was extremely rare in those who didn’t have detectable levels of POPs, so the reference group may not have been firmly set.
What are the implications of the study?
The researchers believe the results of this study suggest a cause-and-effect relationship between high levels of pollutants in the body and an increased risk for diabetes. Further studies are needed to confirm the results. If the association is confirmed, then the results could have profound public health implications.
