Ang Li1, Yayuan Mei1, Meiduo Zhao1, Jing Xu1, Samuel Seery2, Runkui Li3, Jiaxin Zhao1, Quan Zhou1, Xiaoyu Ge1, Qun Xu4. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China. 2. School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China. 3. College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China. Electronic address: xuqun@ibms.cams.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential effects of short- and medium-term exposure to low levels of ozone (O3) on glucose-homeostasis in non-diabetic older adults. METHODS: 166 non-diabetic, older participants in Beijing were deemed eligible to partake in this longitudinal population-based study. Observations were recorded on three separate occasions from November 2016 up until January 2018. Concentrations of outdoor O3 were monitored throughout the study period. Biomarkers indicative of glucose-homeostasis, including fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbAlc, glycated albumin percentage (glycated albumin/albumin), HOMA-IR and HOMA-B were measured at 3 sessions. A linear mixed effects model with random effects was adopted to quantify the effect of O3 across a comprehensive set of glucose-homeostasis markers. RESULTS: Short-term O3 exposure positively associated with increased fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-B. The effect on glucose occurred at 3-, 5-, 6- and 7-days, although the largest effect manifested on 6-days (5.6%, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.9). Significant associations with both insulin and HOMA-IR were observed on the 3- and 4-days. For HOMA-B, positive associations were identified from 3- to 7-days with estimates ranging from 40.0% (95% CI: 2.3, 91.5) to 83.1% (95% CI: 25.3, 167.5). Stratification suggests that women may be more susceptible to short-term O3 exposure. There does not appear to be a significant association between O3 and glucose-homeostasis in medium-term exposures. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that O3 exposure is at least partially associated with type II diabetes in older adults with no prior history of this condition. O3 therefore appears to be a potential risk factor, which is a particular concern when we consider the rise in global concentrations. Evidence also suggests that women may be more susceptible to short-term O3 exposure although we are not quite sure why. Future research may look to investigate this phenomenon further.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential effects of short- and medium-term exposure to low levels of ozone (O3) on glucose-homeostasis in non-diabetic older adults. METHODS: 166 non-diabetic, older participants in Beijing were deemed eligible to partake in this longitudinal population-based study. Observations were recorded on three separate occasions from November 2016 up until January 2018. Concentrations of outdoor O3 were monitored throughout the study period. Biomarkers indicative of glucose-homeostasis, including fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbAlc, glycated albumin percentage (glycated albumin/albumin), HOMA-IR and HOMA-B were measured at 3 sessions. A linear mixed effects model with random effects was adopted to quantify the effect of O3 across a comprehensive set of glucose-homeostasis markers. RESULTS: Short-term O3 exposure positively associated with increased fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-B. The effect on glucose occurred at 3-, 5-, 6- and 7-days, although the largest effect manifested on 6-days (5.6%, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.9). Significant associations with both insulin and HOMA-IR were observed on the 3- and 4-days. For HOMA-B, positive associations were identified from 3- to 7-days with estimates ranging from 40.0% (95% CI: 2.3, 91.5) to 83.1% (95% CI: 25.3, 167.5). Stratification suggests that women may be more susceptible to short-term O3 exposure. There does not appear to be a significant association between O3 and glucose-homeostasis in medium-term exposures. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that O3 exposure is at least partially associated with type II diabetes in older adults with no prior history of this condition. O3 therefore appears to be a potential risk factor, which is a particular concern when we consider the rise in global concentrations. Evidence also suggests that women may be more susceptible to short-term O3 exposure although we are not quite sure why. Future research may look to investigate this phenomenon further.