Pollution by metals: is there a relationship in glycemic control?

Publication date: Available online 10 August 2016 Source:Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology Author(s): Adriana González-Villalva, Laura Colín-Barenque, Bizarro-Nevares Patricia, Marcela Rojas-Lemus, Vianey Rodríguez-Lara, García-Pelaez Isabel, Martha Ustarroz-Cano, Nelly López-Valdéz, Juan Carlos Albarrán-Alonso, Teresa I Fortoul There are evidences of environmental pollution and health effects. Metals are pollutants implicated in systemic toxicity. One of the least studied effects, but which is currently becoming more important, is the effect of metals on glycemic control. Metals have been implicated as causes of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress and are associated to obesity, hyperglycemia and even diabetes. Arsenic, iron, mercury, lead, cadmium and nickel have been studied as a risk factor for hyperglycemia and diabetes. There is another group of metals that causes hypoglycemia such as vanadium, chromium, zinc and magnesium by different mechanisms. Zinc, magnesium and chromium deficiency is associated with increased risk of diabetes. This review summarizes some metals involved in glycemic control and pretends to alert health professionals about considering environmental metals as an important factor that could explain the poor glycemic control in patients. Further studies are needed to understand this poorly assessed problem.
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research