Arsenic and diabetes

[Guest guest]

Just ran across this interesting info (below extracted from post):

[A recent] study looked at the relationship between urine arsenic

levels and risk of diabetes in 788 adults. Individuals with the

highest levels of arsenic in their urine were found to be more than

3.5 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to those with the

lowest levels.

Epidemiological studies of this nature cannot prove that arsenic is

causing diabetes – all they can do is show an association between

these two things. However, the results of strengthened by the fact

that the researchers accounted for major risk factors for diabetes.

This makes it more likely that the relationship between arsenic levels

and diabetes is a real one.

Also, it is believed that there are several mechanisms through which

arsenic might actually cause diabetes. For examples, cells exposed to

arsenic are less able to take up sugar. And arsenic may also

contribute free radical damage and inflammation in the body, both of

which might increase diabetes risk.

Here's the link to the post:

http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/08/20/arsenic-in-drinking-water-linked-with-in\

creased-risk-of-diabetes/