Polybrominated biphenyls, polychlorinated biphenyls, body weight, and incidence of adult-onset diabetes mellitus.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Prior studies have reported an increased risk of diabetes related to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure. No study has yet investigated whether polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), which are similar in chemical structure, increase the incidence of diabetes.

METHODS:
The Michigan PBB cohort was established in 1976 and surveyed again in 1991-1993 and in 2001. PBB and PCB serum levels were measured from blood collected at enrollment. To determine the incidence of adult-onset diabetes, we analyzed cohort members without diabetes at enrollment, ages 20 years and older, with known PBB and PCB levels, who participated in at least 1 follow-up survey (n = 1384). Using Poisson regression, we determined the incidence density ratio (IDR) of diabetes for different serum levels of PBB and PCB, controlling for age, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption at enrollment.

RESULTS:
Analyzing 25 years of follow-up data, we did not find that higher PBB serum levels were a risk factor for the incidence of diabetes mellitus. However, in women, but not in men, higher PCB serum levels were associated with increased incidence of diabetes (IDR = 2.33; 95% confidence interval = 1.25-4.34 in the highest PCB group compared with the lowest). In both men and women, overweight and obesity increased the diabetes incidence.

CONCLUSIONS:
We found no association between PBB serum levels and diabetes incidence. In women, there was a positive linear association of diabetes incidence with PCB serum levels at enrollment. This finding is in agreement with 2 prior studies indicating a higher relative risk of diabetes in PCB-exposed women.

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Author information

Author/s: Vasiliu, Oana (O); Cameron, Lorraine (L); Gardiner, Joseph (J); Deguire, Peter (P); Karmaus, Wilfried (W);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.

Grants: U37/CCU500392 (Agency:PHS HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) (Epidemiology), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 17 (issue 4) : pp 352-9

Dates: Created 2006/06/30; Completed 2006/12/12; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 16755267, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Epidemiology. 2006 Jul;17(4):350-1. (PMID: 16810094)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Cohort Studies
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - chemically induced; epidemiology
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects
Female
Humans

Humans
Incidence
Male
Michigan - epidemiology
Middle Aged
Polybrominated Biphenyls - toxicity
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; toxicity
Risk Factors

Associated Chemicals: Polybrominated Biphenyls (0) ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (0)

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