Pesticide DDT Linked with Slow Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes, Mice Study Shows

Pesticide DDT exposure during pregnancy can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and other conditions in female progeny, a mice study shows.

The study by UC Davis shows the developmental exposure to DDT spikes the risk of females developing metabolic syndrome in latter stage of life. This particular pesticide is banned in the United States since the 1970. However, it is still used for malaria control in countries such as India and South Africa. 

"The women and men this study is most applicable to in the United States are currently at the age when they're more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, because these are diseases of middle- to late adulthood," lead author Michele La Merrill, assistant professor of environmental toxicology at UC Davis, said in a press release.

Researchers found that exposure to DDT before birth halted the metabolism of female mice and lowered their tolerance of cold temperature. This increased their possibility of developing metabolic syndrome and its host of related conditions.

"As mammals, we have to regulate our body temperature in order to live," La Merrill said. "We found that DDT reduced female mice's ability to generate heat. If you're not generating as much heat as the next guy, instead of burning calories, you're storing them."

The study also found gender differences in the mice's response to DDT. Females were at higher risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes and cholesterol. However, such was not the case in males. DDT exposure did not affect obesity or cholesterol levels and caused only a minor increase in glucose levels.

Moreover, the research stated that high fat diet also led female mice to have more problems with glucose, insulin and cholesterol. However it was not a risk factor for males, it added. 

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.