A recent study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology found an association between exposure to terpenes — chemicals commonly used in scented cleaning products and air fresheners — and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms including insulin resistance, obesity, poor cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar and blood pressure that increase an individual’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
In short:
- Terpene exposure was strongly linked to low levels of HDL cholesterol, known as the “good” cholesterol.
- Limonene, a terpene often used in food and increasingly included in vape cartridges, showed the strongest associations with metabolic syndrome of the terpenes studied.
- The impacts of exposure were most pronounced in men, people under 60, and individuals whose BMI exceeded 25 (considered overweight).
Key quote:
“The present study fills a gap in the literature by providing the first groundbreaking insight into the effects of terpenes on disease, suggesting that high levels of exposure to terpenes may induce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which may adversely affect human health.”
Why this matters:
Metabolic disorders are a growing public health challenge across the globe, with the population affected by diabetes projected to grow to 1.31 billion by 2050 and obesity adding more than $170 billion to adult healthcare costs annually in the U.S. While research has established associations between many chemical exposures and metabolic diseases, the role of chemicals in metabolic conditions is still largely overlooked by healthcare systems and regulatory agencies.
Related coverage:
- PCB chemicals may trigger multi-generational cycle of obesity
- Scientists lay out new framework to identify toxics contributing to metabolic disorders
More resources: Jerry Heindel, PhD, Director of Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS), a part of Environmental Health Sciences, writes on chemicals’ role in obesity and metabolic disorders:
- Op-ed: Untangling the causes of obesity
- Opinion: Researchers and clinicians acknowledge the role of chemicals in spurring obesity
- Exposure to microplastics may contribute to liver disease and other metabolic disorders ›
- Roundup, the world's favorite weed killer, linked to liver, metabolic diseases in kids ›
