Abstract

A CRITICAL CORRELATION BETWEEN ARSENIC TOXICITY AND RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Arsenic is considered one of the most lethal elements to humans because of its adverse health effects. Worldwide arsenic is contaminating groundwater and it has been reported in different areas of the world that drinking water carries Arsenic into the human body. That has helped researchers develop a link between exposure to Arsenic due to drinking water and the prevalence of diabetes. When Arsenic enters the body, the human gene AS3MT plays a pivotal role in its methylation and metabolism. The intronic and exonic single nucleotide polymorphisms in the AS3MT gene show heterogeneity due to inter-individual variation. To note that type 2 diabetes is a disorder caused by insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and a change in insulin secretory capacity of pancreatic β cells. The exposure to chronic levels of Arsenic interferes with the transcriptional factors involved in linked gene expression. Previously epidemiological studies revealed the inconstant effects of arsenic on glucose metabolism but there is only limited data on arsenic induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this review article is to analyze the alarming rise of arsenic toxicity in drinking water around the globe and how it causes type 2 diabetes. While understanding the association of AS3MT gene polymorphism and arsenic metabolism to understand the intensity of the causes and effects of Arsenic exposure.

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