Association of fine particulate matter with glucose and lipid metabolism: a longitudinal study in young adults

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate whether PM2.5 exposure in a highly polluted area (>100 mu g/m(3)) affects glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy adults. Methods We recruited 110 healthy adults in Baoding city, Hebei, China, and followed them up between 2017 and 2018. Personal air samplers were used to monitor personal PM2.5 levels. Eight glucose and lipid metabolism parameters were quantified. We performed the linear mixed-effect models to investigate the relationships between PM2.5 and glucose and lipid metabolism parameters. Stratified analyses were further performed according to sex and body mass index (BMI). Results The concentration of PM2.5 was the highest in spring, with a median of 232 mu g/m(3) and the lowest in autumn (139 mu g/m(3)). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that for each twofold increase in PM2.5, the median of insulin concentration decreased by 5.89% (95% CI -10.91% to -0.58%; p<0.05), and ox-LDL increased by 6.43% (95% CI 2.21% to 10.82%; p<0.05). Stratified analyses indicated that the associations were more pronounced in females, overweight and obese participants. Conclusions Exposure to high PM2.5 may have deleterious effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Females, overweight and obese participants are more vulnerable.

Automated summary

Exposure to high levels of PM2.5 may lead to decreased insulin levels and increased oxidized LDL levels, with females, overweight, and obese individuals being more susceptible to these effects.