Chronic exposure to 'permanent pollutants' may boost the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new research findings.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Mount Sinai have found a significant link between exposure to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study, which is one of the first to examine how these chemicals may disrupt the body's metabolism in ways that increase diabetes risk, particularly in diverse U.S. populations, has raised concerns about the environmental contributions to diabetes prevalence.
The study, conducted using BioMe, a health-record linked biobank that has enrolled over 70,000 people at Mount Sinai Hospital since 2007, selected 180 individuals recently diagnosed with T2D and matched them with 180 similar participants who did not have diabetes. Blood samples from all participants were tested for PFAS levels.
Researcher Vishal Midya, Ph.D., M.Stat., stated in a news release that PFAS accumulate in the environment and in human bodies. The researchers examined how increasing PFAS exposure related to subsequent diabetes risk. For each step up in PFAS exposure, there was a 31% higher risk of developing T2D later on.
The study found signs that PFAS may disrupt critical metabolic processes, specifically amino-acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism, which are intimately involved in regulating blood sugar. Metabolic disruptions in amino-acid and drug-processing pathways may offer clues to how PFAS interfere with blood sugar regulation.
The findings can help design more effective interventions for the early prevention of T2D, taking into account individuals' exposures to environmental chemicals. Researcher Damaskini Valvi, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, stated that the research can help us design more effective interventions for the early prevention of T2D.
Notably, one study emphasized the detection of detrimental PFAS effects even in relatively healthy adults from New York City several years before clinical diagnosis of T2D. This suggests PFAS impacts metabolic regulation long before diabetes manifests.
Given the widespread exposure to PFAS ("forever chemicals"), these findings underscore concerns about environmental contributions to diabetes prevalence. Researchers call for integrated exposome approaches combining environmental, genetic, and clinical data, and advocate for public health strategies to limit PFAS exposure to reduce the burden of metabolic diseases.
In conclusion, current research strongly indicates that PFAS exposure is associated with an increased risk of T2D, including in diverse U.S. populations. The study's results suggest that PFAS may offer clues to how these chemicals may disrupt the body's metabolism in ways that increase diabetes risk. The findings can help design more effective interventions for the early prevention of T2D, taking into account individuals' exposures to environmental chemicals.
- This study, which links Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), highlights the need for exploring the environmental contributions to diabetes prevalence.
- The researchers found that PFAS may disrupt critical metabolic processes, specifically amino-acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism, which are integral to regulating blood sugar.
- The increased risk of T2D associated with PFAS exposure can help design more effective interventions for the early prevention of T2D, considering individuals' exposures to environmental chemicals.
- Public health strategies to limit PFAS exposure are crucial, as these chemicals are linked to the development of chronic diseases such as T2D and chronic kidney disease, and their impacts on metabolic regulation may occur long before diabetes manifests.
