PMID- 19917184
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20100202
LR  - 20221207
IS  - 1239-9736 (Print)
IS  - 1239-9736 (Linking)
VI  - 68
IP  - 4
DP  - 2009 Sep
TI  - Environmental toxins, a potential risk factor for diabetes among Canadian 
      Aboriginals.
PG  - 316-26
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To review the current literature to determine if there is a case for 
      examining the presence of toxins in traditional foods and the environment as a 
      possible risk factor for type 2 diabetes in Canadian Aboriginal populations. 
      STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS. The scientific literature on possible 
      causes of type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal populations in Canada was reviewed. 
      Potential exposure through food and water to environmental toxins such as 
      methylmercury, arsenic, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including bisphenol 
      A and phthalates, as well as Aboriginal lifestyle and composition of the 
      traditional diet is discussed. RESULTS. There is growing evidence to suggest that 
      environmental toxins may be associated with noninsulin-dependent diabetes 
      mellitus (type 2 diabetes), which many consider to be endemic worldwide. In 
      Canada, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, especially among Aboriginal 
      populations. Based on both molecular and pathological findings, some toxins found 
      in the environment interfere with the functioning of the pancreas' islets of 
      Langerhans cells, and consequently they affect insulin production. In addition, 
      there is new evidence suggesting that obesity may be linked to endocrine 
      disruptors, thus increasing the likelihood that obesity in itself may not be a 
      chief risk factor for diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes prevalence rates among 
      First Nations, Inuit and Metis populations are 3-5 times higher than the general 
      population. Accepted risk factors such as diet, lifestyle and genetics do not 
      fully explain this phenomenon. However, as many environmental toxins 
      bioaccumulate in the food chain and are found in wild game and fish traditionally 
      harvested and consumed by Aboriginal peoples, these chemicals could present 
      health risks not yet fully explored. As there is not enough evidence to rule out 
      this possibility, further studies are suggested. If correct, such environmental 
      risk factors, especially if they are encountered early in life, would have 
      implications on Aboriginal public health.
FAU - Sharp, Donald
AU  - Sharp D
AD  - Environmental Stewardship Unit, Assembly of First Nations, Ottawa, ON K1R 5B4, 
      Canada. dsharp@afn.ca
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
PL  - United States
TA  - Int J Circumpolar Health
JT  - International journal of circumpolar health
JID - 9713056
RN  - 0 (Hazardous Substances)
SB  - IM
MH  - *American Indian or Alaska Native
MH  - Canada/epidemiology
MH  - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*ethnology/etiology
MH  - Diet/adverse effects/ethnology
MH  - Environmental Exposure/*adverse effects
MH  - Environmental Monitoring
MH  - Epidemiological Monitoring
MH  - Food Chain
MH  - Hazardous Substances/adverse effects
MH  - Humans
MH  - Prevalence
RF  - 77
EDAT- 2009/11/18 06:00
MHDA- 2010/02/03 06:00
CRDT- 2009/11/18 06:00
PHST- 2009/11/18 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2009/11/18 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2010/02/03 06:00 [medline]
AID - 798 [pii]
AID - 10.3402/ijch.v68i4.17372 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009 Sep;68(4):316-26. doi: 10.3402/ijch.v68i4.17372.