Altered glucose tolerance in carbon disulfide exposed workers.

Oral cortisone glucose tolerance tests were performed in 66 CS2-exposed workers and in 66 individually matched control subjects. Results indicate a higher and significant (p less than 0.001) prevalence of latent diabetes in the CS2-exposed group (72.7%) as compared with the control group (16.7%), and the existence of a positive and significant (p less than 0.001) correlation between blood glucose values and exposure index. Possible mechanisms of action involving zinc metabolism and pyridoxine metabolism are discussed.