Recorded presentation

Joel Michalek, Air Force Research Laboratory, US Air Force, 2655 Flight Nurse, Building 807, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235, (210) 536-3441, joel.michalek@brooks.af.mil

Our objective was to determine whether insulin sensitivity was related to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Air Force veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, the unit responsible for spraying Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971, and Comparison veterans who did not spray herbicides were included. We measured insulin sensitivity using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (SI) in a matched study of 29 matched pairs of veterans and a Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) based on fasting glucose and insulin in 71 matched pairs. No group differences were found with regard to the mean values of SI, QUICKI, TNFa, adiponectin and 2 measures of insulin secretion. However, SI and QUICKI decreased significantly with regard to TCDD (p=0.01 and 0.02). A corresponding pattern (though not significant) was found for blood levels of TNFa and adiponectin. These data suggest that high blood TCDD levels may promote an insulin resistant state, but the magnitude of this effect appeared to be small, such that an 18-fold increase in blood TCDD due to increased exposure resulted in only a 10% change in SI in the 29 matched pairs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a possible mechanism relating dioxin exposure and diabetes.
• Summarize the conclusions of this study of insulin sensitivity and dioxin exposure.

Keywords: Agent Orange,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation