Association Among Acrylamide, Blood Insulin, and Insulin Resistance in Adults

• DOI: 10.2337/dc09-0309
• Publication Date: 2009-09-04T02:03:08Z
• Authors: Chien-Yu Lin; Yu-Chuan Lin; Hsu-Ko Kuo; Juey-Jen Hwang; Jiunn-Lee Lin; Pau-Chung Chen; Lian-Yu Lin
• Keywords: Adult; Blood Glucose; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Alcohol Drinking; Nutritional Status; Body Mass Index; 03 medical and health sciences; Humans; Insulin; Original Research; Aged; 2. Zero hunger; Acrylamides; 0303 health sciences; Hemoglobin A; Environmental Exposure; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Lipids; 3. Good health; C-Reactive Protein; Educational Status; Regression Analysis; Female; Insulin Resistance

OBJECTIVE Exposure to acrylamide in foodstuffs and smoking has become a worldwide concern. The effect of acrylamide on glucose homeostasis is not known. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that trace acrylamide exposure might be independently associated with both reduced blood insulin and reduced insulin resistance.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined 1,356 participants with reliable measures of glucose homeostasis and Hb adducts of acrylamide (HbAA) and glycidamide from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2004. Glucose homeostasis was assessed by the measurement of plasma glucose, serum insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

RESULTS In a linear regression model, a 1-unit increase in log HbAA was associated with a decrease in serum insulin (β coefficient = −0.20 ± 0.05, P = 0.001) and HOMA-IR (β coefficient = −0.23 ± 0.05, P < 0.001). After HbAA concentrations were divided into quartiles in the fully adjusted models, the adjusted serum insulin level and HOMA-IR significantly decreased across quartiles of HbAA (Ptrend < 0.001 for both). In subgroup analysis, the association of HbAA levels with HOMA-IR and insulin levels was stronger in subjects who were white or had ever smoked or in subjects with a lower education level or a BMI <25 or >30 kg/m2.

CONCLUSIONS Acrylamide is associated with reduced serum insulin levels in adults. Further clinical and animal studies are warranted to clarify the putative causal relationship.