Effect of chronic arsenic exposure on kidney function of people with diabetes and validation of its effect in a rat model

摘要

Adverse health effects including cancers caused by chronic arsenic exposure are of global significance. Diabetes is another chronic health disease that is on the increase worldwide. There have been several epidemiological studies implicating the positive association between arsenic exposure and diabetes mellitus. We studied villagers with and without diabetes from arsenic-endemic areas and a nearby control site in Xinjiang Province PR China. Water and urinary arsenic were assayed for exposure measurement. Urinary NAG (a kidney function test), blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipid and low density lipid were measured. Villagers from endemic areas had higher urinary arsenic concentrations. The NAG results also suggest that chronic arsenic exposure contributes a significant adverse impact on the kidney function of villagers in the endemic areas. This observation was validated in rats which were chronically exposed to arsenic in drinking water. However, blood glucose levels of diabetic individuals were lower than those from the control site. The relationship of chronic arsenic exposure and diabetes mellitus requires further investigation. A rodent model may be a useful tool for study of this type.