Health. One in seven diabetes related to air pollution

A new case of diabetes in seven is now due to air pollution, researchers said in a study published Saturday, June 30, in The Lancet Planetary Health.

"Pollution has contributed to 3.2 million new cases of diabetes worldwide in 2016, accounting for about 14% of new cases »authors at Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, United States . The link between air pollution and diabetes had already been advanced by previous research

"Pollution is thought to reduce insulin production and cause inflammation, preventing the body from converting blood glucose into energy" summarized the researchers, who published the study in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health . The 14% estimate comes from the medical data of 1.7 million American veterans, followed by a median of eight and a half years. All were initially chosen because they did not have diabetes.

Researchers built a statistical model to see how air pollution in their place of residence could explain why they became diabetic . And the comparison was made with another affection where this pollution is not in question, the fractures of the lower limbs. Factors favoring diabetes such as overweight and obesity were taken into account

A study facing economic lobbies

"Our research shows a significant link between air pollution and diabetes in the world " said in a statement the professor of medicine Ziyad Al-Aly. "This is important because many economic lobbies claim that current levels [de rejets de polluants dans l’atmosphère autorisés] are too strict and should be raised. Evidence shows that these current levels are still not healthy enough and need to be lowered ".

In addition, the proportion of diabetes due to polluted air is estimated to be higher in countries where regulation is less strict and less respected, such as India, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan and Guyana. As an example, in contrast "richer countries such as France, Finland and Iceland" .