Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan

Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan

Background: The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase in both developed and developing countries. Environmental exposure to mercury may be an important and modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, the epidemiological results are controversial. Objectives: This study...

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Main Authors: Tsung-Lin Tsai, Chin-Chi Kuo, Wen-Harn Pan, Trong-Neng Wu, Pinpin Lin, Shu-Li Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-05-01
Series:Environment International
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018311747
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spelling doaj-a0cf2aad4b814276a125e9ef2e6d1c502020-11-25T00:51:40ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202019-05-01126260267Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in TaiwanTsung-Lin Tsai0Chin-Chi Kuo1Wen-Harn Pan2Trong-Neng Wu3Pinpin Lin4Shu-Li Wang5National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, TaiwanKidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Big Data Center, China Medical Univeresity Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanInstitute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, TaiwanNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, TaiwanNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Safety, Health, and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan; Corresponding author at: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan.Background: The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase in both developed and developing countries. Environmental exposure to mercury may be an important and modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, the epidemiological results are controversial. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between blood mercury levels and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Methods: A total of 646 adult participants were selected from the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) 2005–2008. The participants were interviewed using structured questionnaires to record data on basic demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, medical history, and 24-h dietary recall. Specimens of blood and urine were collected at the health examination. Type 2 diabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose level ≥ 126 mg/dL or intake of hypoglycemic medications. The mercury concentration in red blood cells (RBC-Hg) was quantified by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: Participants with type 2 diabetes had a significantly higher RBC-Hg than those without type 2 diabetes. A significant association between the RBC-Hg and prevalence of type 2 diabetes was observed [odds ratio (OR): 1.64; 95% confidence intervals: 1.14–2.35] after potential confounders were well considered, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, total cholesterol, saltwater fish consumption, geographical strata, seasonality and hemoglobin (Hb) level. Conclusion: Our findings showed that elevated RBC-Hg is significantly associated with type 2 diabetes prevalence. Future research, particularly for longitudinal cohort studies with suitable specimens, needs to be performed to verify our findings. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, Mercury exposure, Methylmercury, National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwanhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018311747
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Tsung-Lin Tsai
Chin-Chi Kuo
Wen-Harn Pan
Trong-Neng Wu
Pinpin Lin
Shu-Li Wang
spellingShingle Tsung-Lin Tsai
Chin-Chi Kuo
Wen-Harn Pan
Trong-Neng Wu
Pinpin Lin
Shu-Li Wang
Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
Environment International
author_facet Tsung-Lin Tsai
Chin-Chi Kuo
Wen-Harn Pan
Trong-Neng Wu
Pinpin Lin
Shu-Li Wang
author_sort Tsung-Lin Tsai
title Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
title_short Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
title_full Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
title_fullStr Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
title_full_unstemmed Type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – From the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
title_sort type 2 diabetes occurrence and mercury exposure – from the national nutrition and health survey in taiwan
publisher Elsevier
series Environment International
issn 0160-4120
publishDate 2019-05-01
description Background: The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to increase in both developed and developing countries. Environmental exposure to mercury may be an important and modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, the epidemiological results are controversial. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between blood mercury levels and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Methods: A total of 646 adult participants were selected from the National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) 2005–2008. The participants were interviewed using structured questionnaires to record data on basic demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, medical history, and 24-h dietary recall. Specimens of blood and urine were collected at the health examination. Type 2 diabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose level ≥ 126 mg/dL or intake of hypoglycemic medications. The mercury concentration in red blood cells (RBC-Hg) was quantified by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: Participants with type 2 diabetes had a significantly higher RBC-Hg than those without type 2 diabetes. A significant association between the RBC-Hg and prevalence of type 2 diabetes was observed [odds ratio (OR): 1.64; 95% confidence intervals: 1.14–2.35] after potential confounders were well considered, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, total cholesterol, saltwater fish consumption, geographical strata, seasonality and hemoglobin (Hb) level. Conclusion: Our findings showed that elevated RBC-Hg is significantly associated with type 2 diabetes prevalence. Future research, particularly for longitudinal cohort studies with suitable specimens, needs to be performed to verify our findings. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, Mercury exposure, Methylmercury, National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018311747
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