AUTHOR=Molfino Alessio , Amabile Maria Ida , Muscaritoli Maurizio , Germano Annunziata , Alfano Rossella , Ramaccini Cesarina , Spagnoli Alessandra , Cavaliere Liberato , Marseglia Gianluca , Nardone Antonio , Muto Giuseppina , Carbone Umberto , Triassi Maria , Fiorito Silvana 

TITLE=Association Between Metabolic and Hormonal Derangements and Professional Exposure to Urban Pollution in a High Intensity Traffic Area

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.00509

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2020.00509

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Rationale:</bold> Studies suggest a relation between exposure to air particulate matter (PM)<sub>2.5</sub> pollution and greater cardiovascular morbidity, as well as increased risk for obesity and diabetes. We aimed to identify association(s) between nutritional and metabolic status and exposure to environmental pollution in a cohort of policemen exposed to high levels of air pollution.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We considered adult municipal policemen, working in an urban area at high-traffic density with documented high levels of air PM<sub>2.5</sub> (exposed group) compared to non-exposed policemen. Clinical characteristics, including the presence/absence of metabolic syndrome, were recorded, and serum biomarkers, including adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin, were assessed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> One hundred ninety-nine participants were enrolled, 100 in the exposed group and 99 in the non-exposed group. Metabolic syndrome was documented in 32% of exposed group and in 52.5% of non-exposed group (<italic>P</italic> = 0.008). In the exposed group, we found a positive correlation between body mass index and serum leptin as well as in the non-exposed group (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.0001). Within the exposed group, subjects with metabolic syndrome showed lower serum adiponectin (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.0001) and higher leptin (<italic>P</italic> = 0.002) levels with respect to those without metabolic syndrome, whereas in the non-exposed group, subjects with metabolic syndrome showed only higher leptin levels when compared to those without metabolic syndrome (<italic>P</italic> = 0.01). Among the participants with metabolic syndrome, we found lower adiponectin levels in those of the exposed group with respect to the non-exposed ones (<italic>P</italic> = 0.007). When comparing the exposed and non-exposed groups, after stratifying participants for Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance &gt;2.5, we found lower adiponectin levels in those of the exposed group with respect to the non-exposed ones (<italic>P</italic> = 0.038).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Exposure to air PM pollution was associated with lower levels of adiponectin in adult males with metabolic syndrome.</p>