The effect of ambient ozone on glucose-homoeostasis: A prospective study of non-diabetic older adults in Beijing

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 761; p. 143308
• Main Authors: Li, Ang, Mei, Yayuan, Zhao, Meiduo, Xu, Jing, Seery, Samuel, Li, Runkui, Zhao, Jiaxin, Zhou, Quan, Ge, Xiaoyu, Xu, Qun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.03.2021
• Subjects: Aged; Beijing - epidemiology; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Glucose; Glucose homeostasis; Glucose metabolism disorder; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Longitudinal study; Ozone - adverse effects; Ozone - analysis; Prospective Studies; Beijing; Glucose metabolism disorder; O3; Glucose homeostasis; Longitudinal study
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143308

To investigate potential effects of short- and medium-term exposure to low levels of ozone (O3) on glucose-homeostasis in non-diabetic older adults. 166 non-diabetic, older participants in Beijing were deemed eligible to partake in this longitudinal population-based study. Observations were recorded on three separate occasions from November 2016 up until January 2018. Concentrations of outdoor O3 were monitored throughout the study period. Biomarkers indicative of glucose-homeostasis, including fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbAlc, glycated albumin percentage (glycated albumin/albumin), HOMA-IR and HOMA-B were measured at 3 sessions. A linear mixed effects model with random effects was adopted to quantify the effect of O3 across a comprehensive set of glucose-homeostasis markers. Short-term O3 exposure positively associated with increased fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-B. The effect on glucose occurred at 3-, 5-, 6- and 7-days, although the largest effect manifested on 6-days (5.6%, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.9). Significant associations with both insulin and HOMA-IR were observed on the 3- and 4-days. For HOMA-B, positive associations were identified from 3- to 7-days with estimates ranging from 40.0% (95% CI: 2.3, 91.5) to 83.1% (95% CI: 25.3, 167.5). Stratification suggests that women may be more susceptible to short-term O3 exposure. There does not appear to be a significant association between O3 and glucose-homeostasis in medium-term exposures. In this study, we found that O3 exposure is at least partially associated with type II diabetes in older adults with no prior history of this condition. O3 therefore appears to be a potential risk factor, which is a particular concern when we consider the rise in global concentrations. Evidence also suggests that women may be more susceptible to short-term O3 exposure although we are not quite sure why. Future research may look to investigate this phenomenon further. [Display omitted] •Limited evidence on O3 and glucose association among older, non-diabetic adults•Utilized comprehensive glucose-homoeostasis indicators to provide a clear picture•A longitudinal repeated measurements to better reveal the causal relationship•O3 exposure was associated with increased glucose-homoeostasis indicators•Glucose-homoeostasis in women may be more susceptible to O3 exposure