Can environmental factors predispose noncommunicable diseases?

There is marked increase in our knowledge about the role of the environmental factors in the global dimensions of the noncommunicable diseases (NCD) including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Recent studies indicate that there is coexistence of nutritional deficiencies and appreciable over-nutrition in association with sedentary behavior due to urbanization and industrialization. Environmental factors including helio-magnetic fluctuations may result into inflammatory dysfunctions in various biological systems. These dysfunctions can manifest in the form of central obesity and overweight in developing countries as well as in high income countries. The Global Burden of Disease Study clearly showed that the gratifying gains in cardiovascular health occurred in developed countries, in association with an epidemic of CVD in the developing world. Singh et al., proposed, modifying the previous hypothesis, that overweight comes first in conjunction with inflammation, hyperinsulinemia, increased angiotensin activity, vascular variability disorders and central obesity followed by glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, low HDL and hypertriglyceridemia (Metabolic syndrome).This sequence is followed by coronary artery disease(CAD), gall stones and cancers and finally dental caries, gastrointestinal diseases, bone and joint diseases, degenerative diseases of the brain and psychological disorders, during transition from poverty to affluence. It seems that all the NCDs are mediated by inflammation due to interaction of biological systems with environmental factors, including heliomagnetic fluctions. As people become rich, they begin to increase their intake of proinflammatory refined foods; dietary w-6 and trans fat, salt and sugar in the form of ready prepared foods, syrups, dairy products and flesh foods in place of grain and vegetable based diet. There is a greater use of automobiles, television vewing and decrease in sports, walking and dancing as recreation which also enhances the inflammation, dyslipidemia and obesity. These changes in the diet and lifestyle in conjunction with mental strain, and increase in tobacco and alcohol intake as well as heliomagnetic fluctuations, appear to be primary risk factors in the pathogenesis of inflammation and dyslipidemia leading to NCDs. © Sergey et al.