Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults
Abstract Significant associations between air pollution (AP) and insulin resistance (IR) have been reported in limited populations or certain patient groups, but few studies have addressed this association in the general population, especially in Asians. Although abdominal fat is a major contributor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23324-4 |
| _version_ | 1811180302246084608 |
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| author | Seo Eun Hwang Hyuktae Kwon Jae Moon Yun Kyungha Min Hyun-Jin Kim Jin-Ho Park |
| author_facet | Seo Eun Hwang Hyuktae Kwon Jae Moon Yun Kyungha Min Hyun-Jin Kim Jin-Ho Park |
| author_sort | Seo Eun Hwang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Significant associations between air pollution (AP) and insulin resistance (IR) have been reported in limited populations or certain patient groups, but few studies have addressed this association in the general population, especially in Asians. Although abdominal fat is a major contributor to IR, previous studies have not fully controlled for its effect in the association between AP and IR. We investigated the association between exposure to AP and IR in Korean adults in the general population and whether this association is maintained even after controlling for the effects of abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat. This was a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained for Korean adults who participated in screening health checkups at Seoul National University Health Examination Center from 2006 to 2014. A total of 4251 men and women aged 22–84 years were included. IR was represented by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Adiposity traits such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas were measured by computed tomography. We assessed the annual mean concentrations of air pollutants, including particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm or less (PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. HOMA-IR was significantly associated with increased annual mean exposure to PM10 in both men (β = 0.15; 95% CI 0.09, 0.22) and women (β = 0.16; 95% CI 0.09, 0.23), and these associations were maintained even after controlling for VAT area (both p < 0.05). The adjusted mean HOMA-IR increased gradually with the level of long-term PM10 exposure (low, intermediate, and high exposure) (all p for trend < 0.001) in the subgroup analysis. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, including VAT area, the annual mean exposure to PM10 was significantly associated with the presence of IR in both men (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.03, 1.35) and women (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.18, 1.76). Other air pollutants, such as NO2, SO2 and CO, did not show any significant associations with HOMA-IR or the presence of IR. Persistent exposure to PM10 is the main independent risk factor for IR and exhibits a dose-dependent association regardless of visceral fatness in both men and women. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:48:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8209356432174524a721506de9712397 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:48:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-8209356432174524a721506de97123972022-12-22T04:39:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-23324-4Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adultsSeo Eun Hwang0Hyuktae Kwon1Jae Moon Yun2Kyungha Min3Hyun-Jin Kim4Jin-Ho Park5Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of MedicineDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of MedicineBig Data Center, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer CenterDepartment of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of MedicineAbstract Significant associations between air pollution (AP) and insulin resistance (IR) have been reported in limited populations or certain patient groups, but few studies have addressed this association in the general population, especially in Asians. Although abdominal fat is a major contributor to IR, previous studies have not fully controlled for its effect in the association between AP and IR. We investigated the association between exposure to AP and IR in Korean adults in the general population and whether this association is maintained even after controlling for the effects of abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat. This was a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained for Korean adults who participated in screening health checkups at Seoul National University Health Examination Center from 2006 to 2014. A total of 4251 men and women aged 22–84 years were included. IR was represented by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Adiposity traits such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas were measured by computed tomography. We assessed the annual mean concentrations of air pollutants, including particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm or less (PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. HOMA-IR was significantly associated with increased annual mean exposure to PM10 in both men (β = 0.15; 95% CI 0.09, 0.22) and women (β = 0.16; 95% CI 0.09, 0.23), and these associations were maintained even after controlling for VAT area (both p < 0.05). The adjusted mean HOMA-IR increased gradually with the level of long-term PM10 exposure (low, intermediate, and high exposure) (all p for trend < 0.001) in the subgroup analysis. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, including VAT area, the annual mean exposure to PM10 was significantly associated with the presence of IR in both men (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.03, 1.35) and women (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.18, 1.76). Other air pollutants, such as NO2, SO2 and CO, did not show any significant associations with HOMA-IR or the presence of IR. Persistent exposure to PM10 is the main independent risk factor for IR and exhibits a dose-dependent association regardless of visceral fatness in both men and women.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23324-4 |
| spellingShingle | Seo Eun Hwang Hyuktae Kwon Jae Moon Yun Kyungha Min Hyun-Jin Kim Jin-Ho Park Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults Scientific Reports |
| title | Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults |
| title_full | Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults |
| title_fullStr | Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults |
| title_short | Association between long-term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in Korean adults |
| title_sort | association between long term air pollution exposure and insulin resistance independent of abdominal adiposity in korean adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23324-4 |
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