Abstract

ACETONE, THE THIRD KETONE BODY. III. DEGRADATION BY OZONE AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS. A HYPOTHESIS

José D. Méndez*

Abstract

In recent years there has been an interest in air pollution and its possible role in the etiology of diabetes mellitus. A large number of epidemiological studies have highlighted the adverse effects of air pollution on diabetes and include risk profiles for different exposure durations, types of study design, subgroup populations, and effects of air pollution components. Several pollutants are known: Particulate matter, Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulfur dioxide, Lead and Ozone. On the other hand, acetone is formed in the body from acetoacetate either from spontaneous decaboxylation or by acetoacetate decarboxylase. Acetone levels vary depending on many factors, such as infancy, pregnancy, lactation, physical exercise, dieting, starvation and alcohol consumption. Acetone has been considered as an inert or waste product, useful marker to diagnose diabetes or ketoacidosis, but acetone can also lead to hyperglycemia. As a primary metabolite of acetone, isopropyl alcohol is formed by alcohol dehydrogenase. Physicochemical and physiological studies have shown that acetone treated with ozone/UV or by using 2-14Cacetone, yields similar intermediates including methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal is an important precursor in the formation of advanced glycation end products. These products are related to the development of chronic diseases and aging. Since methylglyoxal can be also formed from carbohydrate, lipids and protein metabolism and hydrogen peroxide is formed in the body or ingested from commercial products, several diseases including diabetes mellitus can be developed. The progression of diseases can be enhanced by environmental ozone in urban areas highly polluted.

Keywords: Air Pollutants, Acetone, Diabetes Mellitus, Hydrogen Peroxide, Methyglyoxal, Advanced Glycation end Products.