May 2, 2015 - 2Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, Montana, USA. 3Shepherd ...... greater obesity in the AI Pima could be their exposure to HFCS. HFCS.
Integrative Molecular Medicine
Research Article
ISSN: 2056-6360
Blood inorganic mercury is directly associated with glucose levels in the human population and may be linked to processed food intake
Renee Dufault*1,2, Zara Berg2, Raquel Crider1,3, Roseanne Schnoll1,4, Larry Wetsit2, Wayne Two Bulls2, Steven G. Gilbert1,5, H.M. “Skip” Kingston6, Mesay Mulugeta Wolle6, G.M. Mizanur Rahman6 and Dan R. Laks7 Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, Naalehu, Hawaii, USA Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, Montana, USA 3 Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, USA 4 Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York, USA 5 Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders, Seattle, Washington, USA 1 2
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
6 7
Abstract Background: The goals of the study were (1) to determine the impact of inorganic mercury exposure on glucose homeostasis; and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of two community-based interventions in promoting dietary changes among American Indian college students to reduce risk factors for Type-2 Diabetes including fasting glucose, insulin, and mercury levels, weight, and body mass index. Methods: To accomplish goal one, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset was analyzed using a previously published method to determine if there is a relationship between inorganic blood mercury and fasting glucose. To accomplish goal two, ten college students were recruited and randomly assigned to a group receiving the online macroepigenetics nutrition course and the support group for eliminating corn sweeteners. Participants in both groups were assessed for diet patterns, weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, insulin, and mercury levels. The interventions were implemented over a 10-week period. Results: Analysis of the NHANES data (n=16,232) determined a direct relationship between inorganic mercury in blood and fasting glucose levels (p