Sex-dependent and body weight-dependent associations between environmental PAHs exposure and insulin resistance: Korean urban elderly panel

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of metabolic diseases rises rapidly with an ageing population. Recent studies suggest the potential involvement of environmental chemicals in insulin resistance (IR) that plays a core role in the development of metabolic diseases. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous components of outdoor and indoor air pollution. The influence of PAHs on IR may differ depending on sex and weight.ObjectivesWe examined the association between exposure to environmental PAHs and IR in Korean urban elderly adults controlling for major risk factors that contribute to an increase in IR.MethodsBetween 2008 and 2010, PAH metabolite levels (urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP)) and the homoeostatic model assessment index (HOMA-IR) were repeatedly measured in 502 adults aged ≥60 years. Linear mixed effect models were fit to evaluate the associations of 1-OHP concentration with HOMA-IR. Subgroups were modelled by sex and weight.ResultsAfter adjusting for sociodemographics, air pollution and metabolic disease status, the highest (vs lowest) quartile of 1-OHP was associated with an 0.57 (95% CI 0.10 to 1.04) increase in the HOMA-IR score (p trend=0.037). When stratified by sex, women presented a significantly dose-dependent trend of 1-OHP with HOMA-IR (p trend=0.013), whereas no association was observed in men (p trend=0.904). When further stratified by weight (body mass index ≥25 vs <25 kg/m2), a significant association was found only in overweight women (p trend=0.023).ConclusionsOur results suggest that environmental exposure to PAHs is associated with increased IR in elderly adults and that the association may be limited to overweight women.

Estimates of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Burden Attributable to Particulate Matter Pollution and Its 30-Year Change Patterns: A Systematic Analysis of Data From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

“…In most cultures, males tend to have higher exposure to outdoor air pollution because of longer travel distances and work in industries that might use coal or other solid fuels, whereas females are traditionally responsible for more indoor housework and domestic cooking (25). However, a prior study suggested that elderly women tend to be more vulnerable to air pollution, particularly overweight women, which could increase the risk of diabetes (26). With the increasing numbers of the aging population as well as the increasing trend of women working outside, the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus attributable to PM 2.5 pollution for both genders should be paid better attention.…”

Long-term metabolic consequences of acute dioxin exposure differ between male and female mice

“…Air pollution (including NO2, particulate matter, and SO2) was associated with an increased risk of diabetes in women but not in men (Brook et al, 2008;Sohn and Oh, 2017), whereas NOX and O3 was associated with diabetes in both men and women, but the association was stronger in women (Renzi et al, 2018). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were associated with insulin resistance in women but not in men (Choi et al, 2015). Lastly, in vivo exposure to bisphenol (BPA), a non-persistent endocrine-disrupting contaminant, induced early onset of T1D in female NOD mice, whereas males had a delayed development of T1D (Xu et al, 2019).…”

Outdoor Air Pollution and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…This association may be gender-dependent, being more distinct among women than men. (28)(29)(30)(31). Although the biological mechanisms underlying this association are still unclear, animal studies have shown that high levels of air pollution may be equivalent to a high-fat diet in terms of its effects, involving immune activation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress and CNS inflammation (32,33).…”