203
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. S. H. Akash et al. (eds.), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-induced
Metabolic Disorders and Treatment Strategies, Emerging Contaminants
and Associated Treatment Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_13
Chapter 13
Role of Heavy Metals in Metabolic
Disorders
Kanwal Irshad, Kanwal Rehman, Fareeha Fiayyaz, Hina Sharif,
Ghulam Murtaza, Shagufta Kamal, and Muhammad Sajid Hamid Akash
Abstract The majority of the heavy metals are considered toxic to the human beings
by interfering with the normal functions that are taking place in the human body by
disrupting metabolic processes and their exposure may be due to natural or anthropogenic sources. Heavy metals act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) by
disrupting the mechanism of action of endogenous substances. Heavy metals such as
cadmium and arsenic have a negative impact on some enzymes that are involved in
carbohydrates and lipids metabolism and lead to an abnormal level of glucose and
lipid, cholesterol, and triglycerides. This is responsible for inducing the pathogenesis associated with diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. These metals are also
responsible to induce reactive oxygen species and suppress antioxidant defense
mechanism. The stress-induced by oxidation is highly linked with metabolic syndrome. These conditions lead to a risk of diabetes-associated cardiovascular diseases. While on the other side, some of the heavy metals notably zinc which is
K. Irshad · H. Sharif · M. S. H. Akash, PhD (*)
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Government College University Faisalabad,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
K. Rehman, PhD
Department of Pharmacy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
F. Fiayyaz
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad,
Pakistan
Department of Microbiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
G. Murtaza
Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore, Pakistan
S. Kamal
Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad,
Pakistan
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license
to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. S. H. Akash et al. (eds.), Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-induced
Metabolic Disorders and Treatment Strategies, Emerging Contaminants
and Associated Treatment Technologies,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45923-9_13
Chapter 13
Role of Heavy Metals in Metabolic
Disorders
Kanwal Irshad, Kanwal Rehman, Fareeha Fiayyaz, Hina Sharif,
Ghulam Murtaza, Shagufta Kamal, and Muhammad Sajid Hamid Akash
Abstract The majority of the heavy metals are considered toxic to the human beings
by interfering with the normal functions that are taking place in the human body by
disrupting metabolic processes and their exposure may be due to natural or anthropogenic sources. Heavy metals act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) by
disrupting the mechanism of action of endogenous substances. Heavy metals such as
cadmium and arsenic have a negative impact on some enzymes that are involved in
carbohydrates and lipids metabolism and lead to an abnormal level of glucose and
lipid, cholesterol, and triglycerides. This is responsible for inducing the pathogenesis associated with diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. These metals are also
responsible to induce reactive oxygen species and suppress antioxidant defense
mechanism. The stress-induced by oxidation is highly linked with metabolic syndrome. These conditions lead to a risk of diabetes-associated cardiovascular diseases. While on the other side, some of the heavy metals notably zinc which is
K. Irshad · H. Sharif · M. S. H. Akash, PhD (*)
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Government College University Faisalabad,
Faisalabad, Pakistan
K. Rehman, PhD
Department of Pharmacy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
F. Fiayyaz
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad,
Pakistan
Department of Microbiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
G. Murtaza
Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore, Pakistan
S. Kamal
Department of Biochemistry, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad,
Pakistan