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Heavy Metals, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk

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Dr Sanjiv Shah, Mumbai    24 November 2018

  1. Metals enter into the body via fumes and aerosols, which precipitate and contaminate the soil and surface water. The residues can be directly taken up or deposited on plants, leaves and fruits, which are then consumed and absorbed. To a lesser extent, they enter the body via inhalation of polluted air.
  2. Other sources: Cosmetics, talcum powder, lipsticks, shampoos, kajal and hair colors, toys painted with lead containing paints.
  3. Poor quality herbal formulations particularly Ayurveda/Siddha bhasmas, herbomineral preparations, folk remedies and Unani formulations also contribute.
  4. Exposure to metal pollutants such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury can play a role in atherosclerosis and CV mortality; metal exposure is a new risk factor for CVD?
  5. High levels of mercury exposure through fish consumption are associated with higher risk of CVD, AMI and all-cause mortality (Salonen et al. Circulation. 1995).
  6. Higher cadmium exposure is associated with increase in risk of CV mortality and CAD-associated mortality (Menke et al) and PAD in both men and women.
  7. In a pooled analysis of 12 studies, RRs for CVD, CAD, stroke and PAD were 1.36, 1.30, 1.18 and 1.49, respectively (Tellez-Plaza et al. Curr Atherosclerosis Rep. 2013).
  8. Lead exposure has been linked to dyslipidemia; also, lead promotes LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis by inactivating paraoxonase.

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