Arsenic and diabetes and hypertension in human populations: a review.
Long-term exposure to ingested arsenic from drinking water has been well documented to be associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in a dose-response relationship among residents of arseniasis-endemic areas in southwestern Taiwan and Bangladesh. An increased risk of self-reported hypertension but not diabetes was reported in a community-based study of residents who consumed drinking water with a low level of arsenic. Increased glycosylated hemoglobin level and systolic blood pressure were observed in workers occupationally exposed to arsenic. Inconsistent findings of arsenic and diabetes in occupational studies may result from the healthy worker effect and the variation in exposure measurement, age composition, number of patients, accuracy in diagnosis and classification of underlying causes of death, competing causes of death, and method to detect diabetes. The dose-response relationship and toxicological mechanisms of arsenic-induced diabetes and hypertension need further elucidation.
Chen
Chien-Jen
CJ
Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan. cjchen@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Wang
Shu-Li
SL
Chiou
Jeng-Min
JM
Tseng
Chin-Hsiao
CH
Chiou
Hung-Yi
HY
Hsueh
Yu-Mei
YM
Chen
Shu-Yuan
SY
Wu
Meei-Maan
MM
Lai
Mei-Shu
MS
D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011042:Poisons / Q000633:toxicity*; D011153:Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D014881:Water Supply
D011042:Poisons; D001151:Arsenic