Air pollution causes a whole host of health problems. Obviously it exacerbates respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis, but it’s also been implicated in increasing the risk of other diseases—even diabetes. The mechanisms linking air pollution to diabetes remain a bit mysterious, and much of the research has been performed using animals—until now. New research presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions is shedding light on how prediabetic humans may benefit from breathing cleaner air at home.
A team of medical researchers from New York University recruited 150 adults with prediabetes, half of them got air purifiers with HEPA filters to put in their bedrooms, while the rest got air purifiers with no filters (essentially just fans). All participants wore blood sugar monitors during the filtration treatment, as well as a week before and after, and air sensors in the rooms measured how well the filters were working.
Read more: “How to Turn Air Pollution into Gleaming Diamonds”
After a month of breathing clean, pure air (or regular dusty bedroom air), the team took a look at the participants’ blood glucose levels. Blood sugar swings were more muted in the group with the real HEPA filters (by roughly 8 percent). After eating breakfast in the morning, this group’s total extra glucose fell by an average of roughly 17 percent, and post-breakfast peak levels dropped by 13 percent.
“Our findings suggest that cleaner air at home, especially in the bedroom, may help people with prediabetes keep their blood sugar steady and blunt morning spikes,” study author and cardiologist Sharine L. Wittkopp explained in a statement. “Installing HEPA filters offers an easy, low cost tool to help protect heart and metabolic health along with healthy eating, regular exercise, and prescribed medications.”
But why is air pollution associated with diabetes in the first place?
It’s a thorny question. “Air pollution” isn’t just one thing, it’s a stew of many noxious elements including particulate matter of various sizes, carbon monoxide, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species from automobile and industrial emissions, and more. This study focused on particulate matter, specifically fine particulates with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5). HEPA filters remove anything larger than 0.3 micrometers in diameter (but not ultrafine particles or the chemical constituents of air pollution).
Researchers believe one mechanism behind this association involves inflammation. Fine particles inhaled into the lungs trigger immune system cells to release inflammatory signals which reduce insulin sensitivity and block glucose uptake in other parts of the body. In fact, mice exposed to PM2.5 have shown impaired glycogen storage, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. According to this research, removing the trigger may help dampen the effects.
Even if they didn’t, there are worse reasons to get a HEPA filter in your bedroom.
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