A month of bedroom air filtration was associated with improved glucose measures among adults with prediabetes, NYU Langone Health reported, linking indoor particle reduction with a short-term metabolic measure.
NYU said the working filters reduced airborne particle levels by 36%. The university also reported that daily glucose variation was nearly 8% lower, total excess glucose after breakfast fell about 17% on average, and the post-breakfast peak declined 13%.
Adults in the trial used either a functioning cleaner or a sham device in their bedrooms for about four weeks. They wore glucose monitors for seven days before the filtration period and another seven days after it. The study protocol describes randomized assignment, double blinding and a sham control.
NYU’s release says more than 150 people participated, while its separate study listing describes a 142-adult cohort.
Sharine L. Wittkopp, the trial’s lead author and a cardiologist, said home filtration “may help people with prediabetes keep their blood sugar steady and blunt morning spikes.” The findings were presented Sunday, Nov. 8, at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.
Prediabetes means blood glucose is above normal and raises the risk of diabetes and heart disease, NYU says. The trial protocol cites previous research linking exposure to fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, with higher blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c. Researchers designed this trial to assess whether lowering indoor pollution could affect glucose measures.
The findings extend the subject of EconoTimes’ earlier report on indoor PM2.5 readings and filtration, though that coverage described separate indoor tests rather than glucose outcomes.
The study tracked glucose measures over about four weeks and did not test whether filtration prevents diabetes or cardiovascular events.
