Water with arsenic could cause diabetes

• April 27, 2024

What causes diabetes? Consuming the vital liquid contaminated with arsenic is a risk factor to promote the onset of diabetes. In Mexico, 16 million people are exposed to hydroarsenicism , especially in mining areas.

It is an environmental intoxication caused by the presence of arsenic in water, either by accumulation in aquifers or by human intervention.

Martha Patricia Ostrosky, director of the Institute of Biomedical Research of the UNAM He explained that some epidemiological studies conducted in different parts of the world have shown that arsenic is associated with diabetes mellitus.

Arsenic is a metalloid associated with cancer, with cardiovascular and neurological disorders. The type of damage to the organism will depend on the doses that are consumed. Humans are exposed to this mineral through industrial, agricultural or mining activities; In addition, it becomes present in the water to drink.

"There are entire areas where the vital liquid is lacking and it is not easy to solve the problem of hydroarsenicism, so you should look for arsenic antagonists," that is, substances that block their effects. "

Around his research on arsenic, as an inducer of diabetes mellitus, the specialist said that the first part consisted of conducting an in vitro study with pancreatic cells, which were exposed to this metalloid; and later a molecular epidemiology study was done with individuals exposed to arsenic.

To determine the changes that occurred with this toxic element, different studies were carried out. In addition, the research group of the specialist in genomics and environmental toxicology, experimented with low and high glucose concentrations to identify the behavior of insulin secretion.

With this it was observed that it was reduced depending on the concentration of arsenic used. In addition, it was possible to determine that the production of insulin does occur, but it remains in the pancreas; likewise, changes were registered in the expression of calcium levels.

Dr. Ostrosky reaffirmed that many people can develop diabetes not only because of obesity or susceptibility genes, but because the water they consume has arsenic.

"Although we show that it is a risk factor, there is still much to be done in terms of environmental factors that may be causing diabetes. What is clear is that public organizations need to make greater efforts to reduce exposure to arsenic in populations, "he concluded.

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