Arsenic in Water May Spike Diabetes in Males

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Highlights:

• Arsenic exposure from contaminated water can elevate the risk of diabetes
• Exposing humanized mice (using genes) to arsenic revealed heightened diabetes risk in males
• The biomarker miR-34a can be used as a screening tool for diabetes in arsenic-endemic regions

All the while contaminated water was related to infectious diseases like cholera, and typhoid. A recent investigation at Cornell University delved into the association between unsafe levels of arsenic in water and its potential to trigger diabetes, showcasing distinct vulnerability in males (1^✔).

Arsenic-Contaminated Water's Link to Diabetes

Utilizing genetically modified lab mice carrying a human gene- iAs, the study revealed a significant contrast: male mice exposed to arsenic in their drinking water developed diabetes, whereas their female counterparts did not.

The mice, engineered to express a human enzyme for arsenic metabolism, offered critical insights as normal mice process arsenic differently from humans, requiring exceedingly high doses to induce diabetes.

‘Arsenic exposure from contaminated water could heighten diabetes risk, particularly in males. #arsenic #contaminatedwater #diabetes #medindia’

"Our paper lays the foundation for future investigations into the mechanism of how arsenic exposure leads to diabetes, why there are striking male-female differences and potential therapeutic strategies," said Praveen Sethupathy, professor of physiological genomics and the study's senior author.

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