J Prev Med Public Health.  2010 Jan;43(1):1-8. 10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.1.1.

Relationship Between Serum Concentrations of Organochlorine Pesticides and Metabolic Syndrome Among Non-Diabetic Adults

• Park SK
• Son HK
• Lee SK
• Kang JH
• Chang YS
• Jacobs DR
• Lee DH

• KMID: 1109406
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.1.1

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to investigate if organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance among non-diabetes.
METHODS
Among subjects who participated in a community-based health survey, 50 non-diabetic subjects with metabolic syndrome and 50 normal controls were selected. Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Eight OCPs were selected.
RESULTS
After adjusting for confounders except for body mass index (BMI), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) and heptachlor epoxide were positively associated with metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios across tertiles of beta-HCH and heptachlor epoxide were 1.0, 3.2 and 4.4, and 1.0, 4.0 and 6.0, respectively (p for trend = 0.01 and <0.01). After additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI), heptachlor epoxide still showed an increasing trend with adjusted odds ratios of 1.0, 4.1, and 4.6 (p for trend = 0.10). When the five components of metabolic syndrome (with the definition of high fasting glucose (> or =100 mg/dL)) were separately analyzed, all components were positively, but not significantly, associated with heptachlor epoxide. As the serum concentration of heptachlor epoxide increased, HOMA-IR increased significantly in subjects with metabolic syndrome even after adjusting for BMI (p value <0.05 and <0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the small sample size, this study suggests that the background exposure to some OCPs may be associated with metabolic syndrome.

Keyword

Organochlorine compounds; Environmental pollutants; Persistent organic pollutants; Metabolic syndrome X; Insulin resistance; Obesity