Meng Lu

Is Exposure to Famine in Childhood and Economic Development in Adulthood Associated With Diabetes

CONTEXTnThe Chinese were afflicted by great famine between 1959 and 1962. These people then experienced rapid economic development during which the gross domestic product per capita increased from

Follicle-stimulating hormone associates with prediabetes and diabetes in postmenopausal women

28 in 1978 to

Low vitamin D levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, evidence for their independent association in men in East China: a cross-sectional study (Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China)).

6807 in 2013. We hypothesize that these two events are associated with the booming rate of diabetes in China.nnnOBJECTIVEnWe aimed to explore whether exposure to famine in early life and high economic status in adulthood was associated with diabetes in later life.nnnDESIGN AND SETTINGnOur data of 6897 adults were from a cross-sectional Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors study in 2014. Among them, 3844 adults experienced famine during different life stages and then lived in areas with different economic statuses in adulthood.nnnMAIN OUTCOME MEASUREnDiabetes was considered as fasting plasma glucose of 7.0 mmol/L or greater, hemoglobin A1c of 6.5% or greater, and/or a previous diagnosis by health care professionals.nnnRESULTSnCompared with nonexposed subjects, famine exposure during the fetal period (odds ratio [OR]1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.09-2.14) and childhood (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.21-2.73) was associated with diabetes after adjusting for age and gender. Further adjustments for adiposity, height, the lipid profile, and blood pressure did not significantly attenuate this association. Subjects living in areas with high economic status had a greater diabetes risk in adulthood (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.20-1.78). In gender-specific analyses, fetal-exposed men (OR 1.64, 95% CI, 1.04-2.59) and childhood-exposed women (OR 2.81, 95% CI, 1.59-4.97) had significantly greater risk of diabetes.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes in middle-aged and elderly people in China is associated with the combination of exposure to famine during the fetal stage and childhood and high economic status in adulthood. Our findings may partly explain the booming diabetes phenomenon in China.

Blood cadmium in Chinese adults and its relationships with diabetes and obesity

AimsNo study explores the association between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and glucose metabolism in general women. We aim to investigate whether the variation of FSH is associated with prediabetes and diabetes in postmenopausal women.MethodsOur data were from survey on prevalence in East China for metabolic diseases and risk factors in 2014. Thousand six hundred and ten postmenopausal women at the age of 55–89 who were not using hormone replacement therapy were selected. Prediabetes and diabetes were defined according to American Diabetes Association 2014 criteria. FSH, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone and estradiol were measured by chemiluminescence. Multinomial logistic analyses were used for the association of FSH with prediabetes and diabetes, and linear regression for the association of FSH with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c.ResultsAmong the participants, 778 (48.3xa0%) had prediabetes and 121 (7.5xa0%) had newly diagnosed diabetes. In linear regression, after full adjustment for demographic variables, metabolic factors, E2 and LH, FSH was associated with FPG and HbA1c (Pxa0<xa00.05). In logistic regression, increased quartiles of FSH were associated with significantly decreased odds ratios of prediabetes and diabetes (P for trend <0.01). This association was attenuated by waist circumference and HOMA-IR, but persisted in fully adjusted model (P for trend <0.05) in which, for the lowest compared with the highest quartile of FSH, the odds ratios of prediabetes and diabetes were 1.93 (95xa0% CI 1.21–3.08; Pxa0<xa00.01) and 3.02 (95xa0% CI 1.10–8.31; Pxa0<xa00.05), respectively.ConclusionsLow FSH was associated with prediabetes and diabetes in postmenopausal women. The associations might be partially explained by adiposity and insulin resistance.

Blood lead level and its association with body mass index and obesity in China - Results from SPECT-China study

Recent studies have suggested an association between vitamin D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, some results are subject to debate. This study was carried out to evaluate the correlation between NAFLD and vitamin D in men and women in East China. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study that focused on the health and metabolic status of adults in sixteen areas of East China. According to ultrasonic assessments, the patients were divided into normal and NAFLD groups. Demographic characteristics and biochemical measurements were obtained. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association. In total, 5066 subjects were enrolled, and 2193 (43·3 %) were diagnosed with NAFLD; 84·56 % of the subjects showed vitamin D deficiency. Subjects with high vitamin D levels had a lower prevalence of NAFLD, particularly male subjects. Within the highest quartile of vitamin D levels, the prevalence of NAFLD was 40·8 %, whereas the lowest quartile of vitamin D levels showed a prevalence of 62·2 %, which was unchanged in women across the vitamin D levels. Binary logistic analysis showed that decreased vitamin D levels were associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (OR 1·54; 95 % CI 1·26, 1·88). This study suggests that vitamin D levels are significantly associated with NAFLD and that vitamin D acts as an independent factor for NAFLD prevalence, particularly in males in East China. Vitamin D interventional treatment might be a new target for controlling NAFLD; elucidating the mechanism requires further research.

Follicle‐stimulating hormone is associated with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese women over 55 years old

The aim of this study is to evaluate blood cadmium levels (BCLs) in Chinese adults and explore whether blood cadmium is associated with diabetes or obesity. This study included 5544 adults from a cross-sectional SPECT-China study. BCL and blood lead level (BLL) was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was used to define prediabetes and diabetes. Overweight and obesity were defined by body mass index (BMI). The associations of BCL with prediabetes, diabetes, overweight, and obesity were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression analyses. Medians (interquartile range) of BCL were 1.97xa0μg/L (0.60–3.82) in men and 1.59xa0μg/L (0.54–3.51) in women. Subjects in low-economic-status areas and urban areas had significantly higher BCL. BCL in current smokers was significantly higher than in current non-smokers. In the adjusted model, a mild positive relationship between BCL and FPG was found. Meanwhile, the prevalence of prediabetes was increased according to the increase in BCL tertiles. Surprisingly, BCL had a negative relationship with prevalence of overweight. In conclusion,xa0BCL in Chinese adults was much higher than in other developed countries and was influenced by gender, smoking, and residential area. BCL was positively related to prediabetes while negatively related to overweight.

Lead Exposure Induces Weight Gain in Adult Rats, Accompanied by DNA Hypermethylation

We aimed to report environmental and blood lead level (BLL) in China, and investigate the relationship of BLL with body mass index (BMI) and obesity. 5558 subjects were enrolled from 16 sites in China. BLL was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Obesity was defined as BMIu2009≥u200930u2009kg/m2. Median (interquartile range) of BLL was 44.00u2009μg/L (29.00–62.16) for men and 37.79u2009μg/L (25.13–54.35) for women, about twice higher than in U.S. population. Subjects in rural and high-economic-status areas had significantly greater BLL (Pu2009<u20090.001). However, in these areas, the lead levels in drinking water, river water and rice were comparable to or significantly lower than those in urban and low-economic-status areas. After adjustment for age, urbanization, economic status and metabolic factors, BLL was independently associated with BMI in women (P for trendu2009<u20090.001), but not in men. In fully adjusted model, increased quartiles of BLL were associated with significantly increased odds ratios of obesity (P for trendu2009<u20090.01) in women. In conclusion, BLLs in Chinese adults were much higher than in developed countries. There was a sex-specific association between BLL and BMI. Elevated BLL does not appear to be associated with lead levels in drinking water or rice, suggesting some other exposure source.

Health-related quality of life in type-2 diabetes patients: a cross-sectional study in East China

Obesity and diabetes are related to non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A reduction in follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) is associated with obesity and diabetes in postmenopausal women. Thus, we aim to investigate whether FSH is associated with NAFLD in women over 55 who were postmenopausal with a high probability.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Aging Men and Women: Increasing Total Testosterone in Aging Men

Objective Previous studies have revealed the association of lead (Pb) exposure with obesity. DNA methylation alteration has been suggested to be one of the regulatory mechanisms of obesity. We aimed to explore whether Pb exposure is related with weight gain and DNA methylation alteration. Methods Male adult 8 week Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: the normal chow diet (NCD); the NCD+0.05%Pb; the NCD+0.15%Pb; the NCD+0.45%Pb and the high fat diet. Rats were exposed to different dosages of Pb through drinking water for 21 weeks. Body weight, fasted blood glucose level, fasted insulin level, homeostasis assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and lipid profile were detected. Intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was constructed to evaluate the glucose tolerance. Lipid accumulation of liver was detected and liver DNA underwent whole genome bisulfite sequencing. Results The NCD+0.05%Pb group had significantly greater weight, HOMA-IR and triglycerides, and lower glucose intolerance than the NCD group (P <0.05). This group also showed hepatic lipid accumulation. These metabolic changes were not observed in the other two Pb dosage groups. Furthermore, DNA hypermethylation extended along pathways related to glucose and lipid metabolism in NCD+0.05%Pb group. Conclusion Pb exposure resulted in dose-specific weight gain in adult Wistar rats, accompanied by alteration of DNA methylation.

Blood Cadmium Level Associates with Lower Testosterone and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin in Chinese men: from SPECT-China Study, 2014.

BackgroundUsed the EuroQoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D) to evaluate the health status of 5310 residents who live in East China, and compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with 311 patients with type 2 diabetes as well as to explore the main influence factors to HRQoL in East China.MethodsThe cohort includes 5310 participants aged 18-89xa0years old lived in East China. EuroQoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D) scale was used for the assessment of health-related quality of life.ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 52.2xa0±xa013.4xa0years of which 43.7% were male. A moderate level of health-related quality of life was measured of that EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS scores were 0.939xa0±xa00.111 and 80.06xa0±xa011.58, respectively. There was a significant difference between diabetes patients and non-diabetes (pxa0=xa00.029, pxa0<xa00.001, respectively). The age had an inverse correlation with the EQ-5D scores both in general population and diabetes patients. The EQ-5D Vas was weakly adversely associated with the FPG, HbA1c and HOMA-IR.ConclusionThe overall health-related quality of life of population in East-China was moderate. Diabetes patients had lower score of health-related quality. The healthy-related quality was associated with the age, gender, economic development of region, level of education and marital status.