title: Sex-dependent and body weight-dependent associations between environmental PAHs exposure and insulin resistance: Korean urban elderly panel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of metabolic diseases rises rapidly with an ageing population. Recent studies suggest the potential involvement of environmental chemicals in insulin resistance (IR) that plays a core role in the development of metabolic diseases. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous components of outdoor and indoor air pollution. The influence of PAHs on IR may differ depending on sex and weight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the association between exposure to environmental PAHs and IR in Korean urban elderly adults controlling for major risk factors that contribute to an increase in IR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2008 and 2010, PAH metabolite levels (urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP)) and the homoeostatic model assessment index (HOMA-IR) were repeatedly measured in 502 adults aged ≥60 years. Linear mixed effect models were fit to evaluate the associations of 1-OHP concentration with HOMA-IR. Subgroups were modelled by sex and weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for sociodemographics, air pollution and metabolic disease status, the highest (vs lowest) quartile of 1-OHP was associated with an 0.57 (95% CI 0.10 to 1.04) increase in the HOMA-IR score (p trend=0.037). When stratified by sex, women presented a significantly dose-dependent trend of 1-OHP with HOMA-IR (p trend=0.013), whereas no association was observed in men (p trend=0.904). When further stratified by weight (body mass index ≥25 vs <25 kg/m(2)), a significant association was found only in overweight women (p trend=0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that environmental exposure to PAHs is associated with increased IR in elderly adults and that the association may be limited to overweight women.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University Graduate School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yoon-Hyeong
authors: YH
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Environmental Health, Seoul National University School of Public Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jin Hee
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yun-Chul
authors: YC
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine
keywords: Biomonitoring; ELDERLY; Environmental epidemiology