Evaluation of the association between arsenic and diabetes: a National Toxicology Program workshop review
- PMID: 22889723
- PMCID: PMC3548281
- DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104579
Evaluation of the association between arsenic and diabetes: a National Toxicology Program workshop review
Abstract
Background: Diabetes affects an estimated 346 million persons globally, and total deaths from diabetes are projected to increase > 50% in the next decade. Understanding the role of environmental chemicals in the development or progression of diabetes is an emerging issue in environmental health. In 2011, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) organized a workshop to assess the literature for evidence of associations between certain chemicals, including inorganic arsenic, and diabetes and/or obesity to help develop a focused research agenda. This review is derived from discussions at that workshop.
Objectives: Our objectives were to assess the consistency, strength/weaknesses, and biological plausibility of findings in the scientific literature regarding arsenic and diabetes and to identify data gaps and areas for future evaluation or research. The extent of the existing literature was insufficient to consider obesity as an outcome.
Data sources, extraction, and synthesis: Studies related to arsenic and diabetes or obesity were identified through PubMed and supplemented with relevant studies identified by reviewing the reference lists in the primary literature or review articles.
Conclusions: Existing human data provide limited to sufficient support for an association between arsenic and diabetes in populations with relatively high exposure levels (≥ 150 µg arsenic/L in drinking water). The evidence is insufficient to conclude that arsenic is associated with diabetes in lower exposure (< 150 µg arsenic/L drinking water), although recent studies with better measures of outcome and exposure support an association. The animal literature as a whole was inconclusive; however, studies using better measures of diabetes-relevant end points support a link between arsenic and diabetes.
Conflict of interest statement
This review is, in part, the work product of employees of the NIEHS, NIH; however, the statements, opinions or conclusions contained therein do not necessarily represent the statements, opinions or conclusions of NIEHS, NIH, or the United States government. The findings and conclusions in this review are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the agencies that sponsored the workshop.
J.P. is an employee of The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences; the Hamner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that has a diverse research portfolio that includes funding from the American Chemistry Council, a trade association that represents chemical manufacturers. The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.
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Comment in
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Arsenic and diabetes.Environ Health Perspect. 2013 Mar;121(3):A70-1. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1206100. Environ Health Perspect. 2013. PMID: 23455025 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
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Arsenic and diabetes: Navas-Acien et al. Respond.Environ Health Perspect. 2013 Mar;121(3):A71-2. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1206100R. Environ Health Perspect. 2013. PMID: 23455044 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
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