Assessment of Microplastic Exposure in Diabetic Patients Using Insulin.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Endocrinology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Microplastic pollution is a growing global concern.
• Potential health impacts of microplastics, including endocrine disruption, are under investigation.
• Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with increasing prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between microplastic presence in serum and diabetes mellitus.
• To assess whether microplastic levels differ between diabetic patients and healthy controls.
• To explore the relationship between microplastic levels and glycemic control markers in diabetic individuals.

Main Methods:

• Serum microplastic quantification in 100 participants (50 diabetic, 50 controls) using LC/GC-MSMS and LCTOF MS.
• Comparison of microplastic levels between diabetic patients and healthy controls.
• Correlation analysis between serum microplastic levels, HbA1c, and fasting glucose.

Main Results:

• Diabetic patients exhibited significantly higher serum microplastic levels (3.14 ± 1.30 µg/mL) compared to healthy controls (1.50 ± 0.89 µg/mL).
• Serum microplastic levels showed a strong positive correlation with HbA1c and fasting glucose levels (p = 0.001).
• Microplastic levels did not significantly differ based on insulin injection frequency.

Conclusions:

• Microplastics may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, potentially acting as endocrine disruptors.
• The presence of microplastics in serum is linked to poorer glycemic control in diabetic patients.
• Findings suggest microplastics contribute to diabetes development rather than being introduced via insulin therapy.