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Persistent Organic Pollutants as Risk Factors for Obesity and Diabetes

  • Diabetes Epidemiology (NM Maruthur, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of review

The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes cannot be fully explained by known risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and family history. This review summarizes the available studies linking persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to obesity and diabetes and discusses plausible underlying mechanisms.

Recent findings

Increasing evidence suggest that POPs may act as obesogens and diabetogens to promote the development of obesity and diabetes and induce metabolic dysfunction. POPs are synthesized chemicals and are used widely in our daily life. These chemicals are resistant to degradation in chemical or biological processes, which enable them to exist in the environment persistently and to be bio-accumulated in animal and human tissue through the food chain. Increasingly, epidemiologic studies suggest a positive association between POPs and risk of developing diabetes.

Summary

Understanding the relationship of POPs with obesity and diabetes may shed light on preventive strategies for obesity and diabetes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from Mr. Kwok Yat Wai and Madam Kwok Chung Bo Fun Graduate School Development Fund, Hong Kong Baptist University; National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program 21577115 and 21477101); the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (RGC GRF 463612 and 14104314, 12300114); Faculty Research Grants from the Hong Kong Baptist University (FRG2/15-16/067; FRG2/16-17/049); Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF/ 03144376); and HKASO research grant 2015-16.

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

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Conflict of Interest

Chunxue Yang, Alice Pik Shan Kong, Zongwei Cai, and Arthur C.K. Chung declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Partner, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, and Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224, Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

    Chunxue Yang, Zongwei Cai & Arthur C.K. Chung

  2. HKBU Institute for Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China

    Zongwei Cai & Arthur C.K. Chung

  3. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Alice Pik Shan Kong

  4. Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Alice Pik Shan Kong

  5. Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Alice Pik Shan Kong

Authors
  1. Chunxue Yang
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  2. Alice Pik Shan Kong
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  3. Zongwei Cai
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  4. Arthur C.K. Chung
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zongwei Cai or Arthur C.K. Chung.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Diabetes Epidemiology

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Yang, C., Kong, A.P.S., Cai, Z. et al. Persistent Organic Pollutants as Risk Factors for Obesity and Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep 17, 132 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0966-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0966-0

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