Everyone knows that diabetes is associated with obesity, probably because obesity causes diabetes. However, thin people also become diabetic. A clue to why is provided by the correlation between diabetes and what are called “persistent organic pollutants” (POPs). POPs are man-made organic compounds, usually pesticides, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans.
A 2006 study using NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002) data found very strong associations between levels of these chemicals and diabetes. For example, a risk ratio of 30. These associations persisted even when the data was stratified in all sorts of ways. The scariest result came from people who had BMI < 25. Looking only at such people, those above the 90th percentile for amount of POPs had 16 times the risk of diabetes as those below the 25th percentile. Here is something associated with thin people getting diabetes.
Does the association exist because POPs cause diabetes? You might argue that POP exposure is correlated with poverty (poor people are more exposed), poor people exercise less than rich people, and lack of exercise causes diabetes. However, Agent Orange exposure among soldiers is associated with diabetes. That is unlikely to be due to confounding with poverty or lack of exercise.
Everyone has these chemicals in their body, but almost no one knows how much. I don’t know if I’m in the 10th percentile or the 90th percentile. If I’m in the 90th percentile, what can I do about it? A good place for self-measurement and tracking.
“A 2006 study …”: seven years – so who’s tried it out on rats and so on?
Scotchgard stain & fire protection is another key source. If you have furniture or carpeting that was manufactured before 2002 you’re exposed to it on a daily basis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanesulfonic_acid
Just remembered that fire retardants in furniture skyrocketed (nationwide) due to a 1975 California regulation.
https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Flame-retardant-free-furniture-rare-costly-4299274.php
I will make an old question (just curious what people in this blog think). Why the property man made ads a lot to how much we should suspect a chemical? If unnatural is the answer then what about all the chemicals that occur in the nature but are new to humans (you encounter them whether or not you do any type of “paleo-eating”) . To this chemicals there is much more exposure. Bruce ames for example had similar thoughts