Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jan 26, 2025; 13(3): 98110
Published online Jan 26, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i3.98110
Microplastic and nanoplastic exposure and risk of diabetes mellitus
Hui-Yi Hsiao, Chung-Yi Nien, Ruei-Feng Shiu, Wei-Chun Chin, Tzung-Hai Yen
Hui-Yi Hsiao, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Hui-Yi Hsiao, Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
Chung-Yi Nien, Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Zhongli 320317, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Ruei-Feng Shiu, Center of Excellence for The Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
Ruei-Feng Shiu, Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
Wei-Chun Chin, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, United States
Tzung-Hai Yen, Department of Nephrology, Clinical Poison Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou 33305, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Tzung-Hai Yen, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Author contributions: Hsiao HY was responsible for data collection and manuscript writing; Nien CY, Shiu RF and Chin WC were responsible for discussion of the manuscript; Yen TH was responsible for study design and supervision; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Supported by Research grant from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan, No. CMRPG3N0622.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Tzung-Hai Yen, MD, PhD, Doctor, Professor, Department of Nephrology, Clinical Poison Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5 Fu-Hsing Street, Kweishan, Linkou 33305, Taoyuan, Taiwan. m19570@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Received: June 18, 2024
Revised: September 28, 2024
Accepted: October 21, 2024
Published online: January 26, 2025
Processing time: 146 Days and 19.8 Hours
Abstract

The issue of plastic pollutants has become a growing concern. Both microplastics (MPs) (particle size < 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs) (particle size < 1 µm) can cause DNA damage, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress in various organisms. The primary known impacts of microplastic/nanoplastic are observed in the liver and respiratory system, leading to hepatotoxicity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although research on the effects of MPs and NPs on diabetes is still in its early stages, there are potential concerns. This editorial highlights the risk to diabetics from co-exposure to contaminants and MPs/NPs, supported by evidence from animal studies and the various chemical compositions of MPs/NPs.

Keywords: Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Plastic pollution, Diabetes mellitus; Insulin resistance

Core Tip: Laboratory studies provide strong evidence of the impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure on glycolysis, blood glucose levels, insulin secretion, and insulin resistance. However, the lack of long-term human studies results in inconclusive conclusions regarding the direct effects of microplastics/nanoplastics on the risk of developing diabetes.