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07/04/2006
Passive smoking 'increases diabetes risk'
Passive smoking increases the risk of developing diabetes, a new study has claimed.
The US research, published by the British Medical Journal online, examined 4572 white and African-American men and women in four US cities, dividing them into four categories of smoking status, ranging from those who smoked to those who had neither smoked nor breathed in other people's smoke.
Researchers then tracked how many participants developed the precursor to diabetes, glucose intolerance - where the body can no longer produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar - over 15 years.
The study found that smokers had the highest risk, with 22% of participants developing glucose intolerance over the study period. Non-smokers who had no exposure to second-hand smoke had the lowest risk with 12% developing the condition.
However, 17% of those who had never smoked, but who were subject to passive smoking also developed glucose intolerance - higher than the 14% risk for those in the group who had previously smoked and given up.
The research also showed that, overall, white Americans were more susceptible to this effect than African-Americans.
The authors of the report said that those breathing in second-hand smoke were exposed to many toxins and said that the chemical reactions which produce second-hand smoke mean that some of those toxins may be at even higher concentrations than the levels breathed in directly by smokers.
The authors said that if one of these toxins particularly affects the pancreas - the organ that produces insulin - that this would explain the findings.
Until now, it has not been known that passive smoking increased the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers said that more studies were now needed.
Zoë Harrison, Care Advisor at Diabetes UK, said: "Diabetes is already increasing at an alarming rate and lifestyle factors definitely play a huge role in this. If this pattern continues we will soon start seeing people losing their sight or having amputations at a much younger age."
(KMcA)
The US research, published by the British Medical Journal online, examined 4572 white and African-American men and women in four US cities, dividing them into four categories of smoking status, ranging from those who smoked to those who had neither smoked nor breathed in other people's smoke.
Researchers then tracked how many participants developed the precursor to diabetes, glucose intolerance - where the body can no longer produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar - over 15 years.
The study found that smokers had the highest risk, with 22% of participants developing glucose intolerance over the study period. Non-smokers who had no exposure to second-hand smoke had the lowest risk with 12% developing the condition.
However, 17% of those who had never smoked, but who were subject to passive smoking also developed glucose intolerance - higher than the 14% risk for those in the group who had previously smoked and given up.
The research also showed that, overall, white Americans were more susceptible to this effect than African-Americans.
The authors of the report said that those breathing in second-hand smoke were exposed to many toxins and said that the chemical reactions which produce second-hand smoke mean that some of those toxins may be at even higher concentrations than the levels breathed in directly by smokers.
The authors said that if one of these toxins particularly affects the pancreas - the organ that produces insulin - that this would explain the findings.
Until now, it has not been known that passive smoking increased the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers said that more studies were now needed.
Zoë Harrison, Care Advisor at Diabetes UK, said: "Diabetes is already increasing at an alarming rate and lifestyle factors definitely play a huge role in this. If this pattern continues we will soon start seeing people losing their sight or having amputations at a much younger age."
(KMcA)
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