A study has identified the biological mechanism linking long-term arsenic exposure to conditions such as cancer and Type 2 diabetes, which could lead to potential new targets for drug development.
Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include environmental toxicant exposure, particularly chronic exposure to arsenic – shown to affect insulin production and sensitivity, blood sugar levels, and lipid profiles. Arsenic is a natural metalloid found in soil and can be one of the most significant contaminants in drinking water globally. Combined with occupational exposures, such as mining, more than 160 million people are exposed to arsenic worldwide.
The research at the University of Arizona in the US found a biological mechanism by which chronic arsenic exposure led to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance – two key features of diabetes progression.
To read the study, CLICK HERE.
