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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA. An interesting study has just reported where
the mercury load status (via toenail analysis) in young adults
20-32 was determined and the incidence of diabetes and pancreatic
beta-cell function examined over a subsequent period of 18 years. When
the highest vs. the lowest quintiles of initial mercury load were
compared, those in the highest had a 65% increase of incident diabetes.
A decrease in beta-cell function also correlated with increasing mercury
load. This association was only evident after adjustment for demographic,
major lifestyle and dietary factors, particularly weight and intake of
long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium, both of which are protective.
The authors comment that these results are consistent with a number of
experimental studies with both cell cultures and animals, but that human
data is sparse and contradictory and there is no relevant human data
available from Western countries. However, several studies from Taiwan,
Turkey and Mexico found positive associations that supported results found
in this study.
It is also well established that in general there is an association
between heavy metal loads and both pancreatic islet function and the
development of diabetes. A recent review discussed arsenic, cadmium,
mercury and nickel, although the latter lacked human studies.
He K, Xun P, Liu K, Morris S, Reis J, Guallar E. Mercury Exposure
in Young Adulthood and Incidence of Diabetes Later in Life: The CARDIA
trace element study. Diabetes Care 2013 February 19
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