Posted on 09/20/2024 5:19:30 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Exposure to arsenic and other toxic metals may accelerate the progression toward diabetes, according to a new study.
In a longitudinal study of more than 500 Mexican Americans living in southern Texas, researchers found that high levels of toxic metals in urine predicted faster increases in blood sugar over subsequent years.
Based on these results, individuals with the highest levels of arsenic in their urine were projected to qualify as prediabetic 23 months earlier and diabetic 65 months earlier than those with the lowest exposure to the toxic metal.
The study highlights an underappreciated risk factor for diabetes, a disease of immense public health significance that is associated with significant health disparities in conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and blindness. It also emphasizes that this risk factor can be addressed by reducing exposure to contaminated food, water and other products.
The study examined residents of Starr County, Texas, a region along the U.S.-Mexico border with one of the highest rates of diabetes and diabetes-related mortality in the country. Arsenic and other toxic metals have been detected in local groundwater, and these elements may also be ingested through foods and medicines.
As part of a broader project, 510 participants provided urine and blood samples. Researchers measured the levels of different metals in the urine at the start of the study, then measured blood-sugar levels three, six, 12, 24 and 36 months later.
On average, blood sugar levels increased in all participants. But in those who initially exhibited higher urinary levels of arsenic, selenium, copper, molybdenum, nickel or tin, blood sugar increased at a faster rate over the three years.
This acceleration puts those who started with normal blood sugar levels at risk of developing prediabetes and diabetes earlier than others in their population—a worrisome trajectory, said Dr. Robert Sargis.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Zinc was found to reduce diabetes likelihood.
The Environment Working Group:
You can also do a web search for your own city’s latest report, and easily find the 2024 report on the web.
What’s the source of the arsenic?
Rocks of the aquifer.
Walmart and Aldi were selling arsenic fortified apple juice earlier in the year for those that need to increase their levels of that dietary supplement. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/recall-alert/apple-juice-recall-expanded-aldi-walgreens-walmart-dollar-general/3416880/
Arsenic is not a supplement.
It’s just a problem, but one form is particularly bad.
Cretaceous volcanic ash from eruptions in the Big Bend area.
Thanks for the info. I’ll check it out.
Financial help is on the way. Texas has been allocated approximately $2.5 billion in federal funding earmarked for water infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. And the state also allocated more than $2 billion to increase water supplies, fix failing infrastructure and prevent flooding. One billion of that will go toward the New Water Supply for Texas Fund and the Texas Water Fund if voters approve the idea in the fall election.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/30/west-texas-water-residents-utlity/
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