Relationship between serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and metabolic syndrome among non-diabetic adults.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate if organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance among non-diabetes.


METHODS
Among subjects who participated in a community-based health survey, 50 non-diabetic subjects with metabolic syndrome and 50 normal controls were selected. Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Eight OCPs were selected.


RESULTS
After adjusting for confounders except for body mass index (BMI), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) and heptachlor epoxide were positively associated with metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios across tertiles of beta-HCH and heptachlor epoxide were 1.0, 3.2 and 4.4, and 1.0, 4.0 and 6.0, respectively (p for trend = 0.01 and <0.01). After additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI), heptachlor epoxide still showed an increasing trend with adjusted odds ratios of 1.0, 4.1, and 4.6 (p for trend = 0.10). When the five components of metabolic syndrome (with the definition of high fasting glucose (> or =100 mg/dL)) were separately analyzed, all components were positively, but not significantly, associated with heptachlor epoxide. As the serum concentration of heptachlor epoxide increased, HOMA-IR increased significantly in subjects with metabolic syndrome even after adjusting for BMI (p value <0.05 and <0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the small sample size, this study suggests that the background exposure to some OCPs may be associated with metabolic syndrome.
Park
Sun Kyun
SK
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Korea.
Son
Hyo Kyung
HK
Lee
Sung Kook
SK
Kang
Jung Ho
JH
Chang
Yoon Seok
YS
Jacobs
David R
DR
Lee
Duk Hee
DH
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000633:toxicity*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D008055:Lipids; D010575:Pesticides