Hormonal
Chronic exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water (typically >100 ppb) is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with a pooled relative risk of 2.52 in high-exposure populations.
If you live in an area with known high arsenic levels in your drinking water (often >100 ppb), your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is significantly higher (more than double) compared to those with low exposure. This risk is specifically linked to chronic exposure via drinking water in endemic areas like parts of Taiwan and Bangladesh. Ensure your water source is tested and consider filtration or alternative sources if arsenic levels are high.
In studies from Taiwan and Bangladesh, the pooled relative risk estimate for diabetes comparing extreme arsenic exposure categories was 2.52 (95% confidence interval, 1.69–3.75)...
Why this rating
The review finds epidemiologic evidence inconsistent and limited by methodological problems, though in vitro mechanisms are plausible.
Source
Arsenic Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Evidence
Ana Navas‐Acién et al. · Environmental Health Perspectives · 2005
DOI 10.1289/ehp.8551
More from this paper
- The current evidence is inadequate to establish a causal role of arsenic in diabetes due to methodological limitations in epidemiologic studies and the use of non-physiological concentrations in experimental studies.Strong
- Arsenic exposure interferes with insulin signal transduction and glucose metabolism mechanisms, including the inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and alteration of transcription factors like IUF-1 and PPARγ.Moderate
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