{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,17]],"date-time":"2026-07-17T03:19:09Z","timestamp":1784258349706,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,6]],"date-time":"2025-10-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759708800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Endocrinol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Currently, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the fastest-growing global health emergencies of the century. Emerging evidence from epidemiological studies suggests a potential positive association between exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) or its byproducts and an increasing risk of T2DM.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the association between DDT or its byproducts and T2DM. Additionally, we aimed to identify the sources of heterogeneity contributing to the inconsistency of the results.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Data analysis: assess the quality of the included studies using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Exposure tool, determine the source of heterogeneity using subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and meta regression model based on a fixed-effects model, and analyze the publication bias using funnel plots, Egger\u2019s test, and Begg\u2019s test.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>DDT and its byproducts were associated with the risk of developing T2DM (total OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.15, I<jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 40%). Subgroup analysis stratified by biomarkers showed a stronger association between p,p\u2032-DDE and T2DM (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09-1.17, I\u00b2= 58.5%). The results of the funnel plot, Egger\u2019s test, and Begg\u2019s test showed publication bias and small study effect in studies included in the analysis (p&amp;lt;0.05), but the influence on the results was smaller.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>The systematic review and meta-analysis offer quantifiable proof of a positive correlation between exposure to DDT or its byproducts and a higher risk of developing T2DM.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic Review Registration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:uri>https:\/\/inplasy.com<\/jats:uri>, identifier INPLASY20258004.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2025.1634292","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,6]],"date-time":"2025-10-06T13:37:26Z","timestamp":1759757846000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Association between DDT or its byproducts and T2DM: a 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