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

Tsung-Lin Tsai; Chin-Chi Kuo; Wen-Harn Pan; Trong-Neng Wu; Pinpin Lin; Shu-Li Wang

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.02.038

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

Environ Int. 2019 May:126:260-267. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.02.038. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Authors

Tsung-Lin Tsai¹, Chin-Chi Kuo², Wen-Harn Pan³, Trong-Neng Wu⁴, Pinpin Lin⁵, Shu-Li Wang⁶

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Big Data Center, China Medical Univeresity Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
⁶ National 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. Electronic address: slwang@nhri.org.tw.

PMID: 30825744
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.02.038

Abstract

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: Mercury exposure; Methylmercury; National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan; Type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology*
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Environmental Pollutants / blood*
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Mercury / blood*
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

Environmental Pollutants
Mercury