title: An exploratory study of diabetes in a First Nation community with respect to serum concentrations of p,p'-DDE and PCBs and fish consumption.
abstract: This study examined the association between self-reported diabetes, fish consumption and serum levels of organochlorines in a First Nation community. One quarter of the 101 participants reported diabetes. Serum PCBs, but not p,p'-DDE, were positively correlated to consumption frequency of total fish, walleye and pike, but not trout. Reported diabetes was positively associated to p,p'-DDE and some PCB congeners. Odds Ratios (OR) for reported diabetes for those in the upper 75th percentile for serum p,p'-DDE compared to the others were 3.5 (95% CI 1-13.8) and 6.1 (95% CI 1.4-27.3) (weight wet and lipid-standardized values, respectively) and for total sum of PCBs: 4.91 (95% CI 1.4-19.0) and 5.51 (95% CI 1.3-24.1). For participants who were in the upper 50th percentile for trout and white fish intake, reported diabetes was respectively 6 and 4 times lower compared to the others. These findings support the hypothesis that environmental exposure to elevated p,p'-DDE and PCBs is associated with increased risk of diabetes. Consumption of trout and white fish may be beneficial to reduce risk.
authors.affiliation: CINBIOSE, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), C.P. 8888 succ. Centre ville H3C 3P8, Montréal (Québec), Canada.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philibert
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Research Division, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: CINBIOSE, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), C.P. 8888 succ. Centre ville H3C 3P8, Montréal (Québec), Canada.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mergler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls