A new study published in the journal Environment International, part of the European project EXPANSE, analyzed the relationship between air pollution, temperature, green spaces, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in 21,259 participants from nine European cohorts, with 5,464 from GCAT. The analysis focused on individuals without diabetes to study these factors before the onset of the disease.
The results indicate that higher exposure to air pollution, particularly to PM10 particles, and an increase in both temperature and its variability, are associated with elevated HbA1c levels. The study also reveals interactions between these exposures, highlighting the importance of jointly analyzing environmental factors. No consistent associations were found with the presence of green spaces.
Researchers estimate that improved air quality could reduce HbA1c levels, while temperature changes related to climate change might have the opposite effect. It is observed that improved air quality gains importance in a climate change context, producing more beneficial effects on blood glucose in warmer temperature scenarios.
The authors suggest that inflammation and insulin resistance could be involved mechanisms. "This work highlights the association between air pollution, temperature variability, and HbA1c levels in individuals who do not yet have diabetes. The incorporation of temperature into this approach is particularly relevant in the current context of climate change," explains Natàlia Blay, a postdoctoral researcher at GCAT and co-author.
This perspective aligns with GCAT's research on the combined contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), led by Sílvia Bonàs-Guarch. "These types of studies are essential for understanding the role of the exposome in the clinical heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes," comments Bonàs-Guarch, emphasizing GCAT's work in evaluating how genetic predisposition and environmental exposures modulate key physiological processes.
The authors conclude that the findings reinforce the need to improve air quality in urban environments, especially in the context of climate change, where high levels of temperature, pollution, and diabetes risk converge.
