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considered as an essential nutrient, play its significant role in metabolic disorders by
suppressing oxidant effect, reducing obesity and lipogenesis. In this chapter, we
have briefly overviewed the role of heavy metals that act as EDCs in metabolic disorder via interfering various transcriptional and metabolic pathways while the other
heavy metals which have a beneficial role in the amelioration of metabolic
disorders.
Keywords Heavy metals · Carbohydrate metabolism · Lipid metabolism ·
Oxidative stress
Introduction
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be defined as exogenous substances or
mixtures of substances that interact in any way with endogenous hormonal signaling, not only affecting the production, secretion, and transportation of hormones but
also has an effect on their cellular metabolism, binding action and elimination [1].
EDCs play a crucial role in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular system. In case
when EDCs act as obesogens, they show their effect on adipocyte tissues and also
on the brain for induction of obesity which causes glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and enhanced expression susceptibility towards cardiovascular
disorders and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In case when EDCs act as diabetogenic, they
have a direct effect on the islet of Langerhans due to which insulin synthesis and
release may be increased or decreased, as a result, may be hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia occur. Due to the impairment of insulin signaling and insulin resistance,
the metabolic syndrome occurs. Some EDCs also have a direct effect on the heart
and cause cardiovascular diseases [1]. EDCs are basically chemical substances
which exhibit agonist and antagonist effect on the endocrine system. Many heavy
metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and arsenic have endocrinedisrupting activities [2].
Heavy metals are considered as a broad class of metals and metalloids having a
relatively high density and are very toxic in nature even at parts per billion levels.
Examples include lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, zinc, silver, copper, iron, chromium, nickel, palladium, and platinum. Both natural and anthropogenic sources
such as mining, automobiles exhaust, and industrial discharge are major sources of
releasing these metals into the environment [3]. Heavy metals in the form of oxides
and sulfides ore naturally occur in the earth's crust and rocks. Heavy metals can be
halted out in the form of minerals from many different types of ores such as sulfides
of cobalt, lead, cadmium, mercury, iron, and arsenic. The leaching of heavy metals
may occur due to naturally occurring mechanisms such as weathering of rocks, mining, and volcanic eruptions processes. Leaching of heavy metals into oceans, rivers,
and lakes can cause pollution and affects its surrounding environment by acidic rain
K. Irshad et al.
considered as an essential nutrient, play its significant role in metabolic disorders by
suppressing oxidant effect, reducing obesity and lipogenesis. In this chapter, we
have briefly overviewed the role of heavy metals that act as EDCs in metabolic disorder via interfering various transcriptional and metabolic pathways while the other
heavy metals which have a beneficial role in the amelioration of metabolic
disorders.
Keywords Heavy metals · Carbohydrate metabolism · Lipid metabolism ·
Oxidative stress
Introduction
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can be defined as exogenous substances or
mixtures of substances that interact in any way with endogenous hormonal signaling, not only affecting the production, secretion, and transportation of hormones but
also has an effect on their cellular metabolism, binding action and elimination [1].
EDCs play a crucial role in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular system. In case
when EDCs act as obesogens, they show their effect on adipocyte tissues and also
on the brain for induction of obesity which causes glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and enhanced expression susceptibility towards cardiovascular
disorders and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In case when EDCs act as diabetogenic, they
have a direct effect on the islet of Langerhans due to which insulin synthesis and
release may be increased or decreased, as a result, may be hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia occur. Due to the impairment of insulin signaling and insulin resistance,
the metabolic syndrome occurs. Some EDCs also have a direct effect on the heart
and cause cardiovascular diseases [1]. EDCs are basically chemical substances
which exhibit agonist and antagonist effect on the endocrine system. Many heavy
metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and arsenic have endocrinedisrupting activities [2].
Heavy metals are considered as a broad class of metals and metalloids having a
relatively high density and are very toxic in nature even at parts per billion levels.
Examples include lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, zinc, silver, copper, iron, chromium, nickel, palladium, and platinum. Both natural and anthropogenic sources
such as mining, automobiles exhaust, and industrial discharge are major sources of
releasing these metals into the environment [3]. Heavy metals in the form of oxides
and sulfides ore naturally occur in the earth's crust and rocks. Heavy metals can be
halted out in the form of minerals from many different types of ores such as sulfides
of cobalt, lead, cadmium, mercury, iron, and arsenic. The leaching of heavy metals
may occur due to naturally occurring mechanisms such as weathering of rocks, mining, and volcanic eruptions processes. Leaching of heavy metals into oceans, rivers,
and lakes can cause pollution and affects its surrounding environment by acidic rain
K. Irshad et al.