Exploratory analysis of the associations between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormones among adolescents and adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 2974 - 2984
• Main Authors: Fan, Yun, Qian, Hong, Wu, Zhuo, Li, Zhi, Li, Xiuzhu, Zhang, Yan, Xu, Qiaoqiao, Lu, Chuncheng, Wang, Xinru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Age; Age groups; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Endocrine disruptors; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Epidemiology; Estrogen receptors; Estrogens; Female; Hormones; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Male; Nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Phytoestrogens; Plants; Polls & surveys; Regression analysis; Regression models; Research Article; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Thyroid Hormones; Thyroid-stimulating hormone; United States; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Xenoestrogens; United States; United States > US; Phytoestrogen; Thyroid hormone; Adults; Cross-sectional study; Adolescents; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14553-7

Phytoestrogens are naturally plant-derived compounds that could bind to estrogen receptors and mimic estrogenic effects. Previous studies showed a positive association between phytoestrogens and hypothyroidism; however, little is known on phytoestrogens and thyroid hormones. This study was designed to investigate the associations between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormone levels. Based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010, 4103 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Linear regression models and multiple linear regressions models were applied to examine the relationships between urinary phytoestrogens and thyroid hormone levels. Urinary O-desmethylangolensin (O-DMA) was found to be correlated with serum FT 4 levels in the female 20–60-year-of-age group ( β =0.018, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.031). Higher enterolactone (ENT) levels were significantly positively associated with TSH levels in the 12–19-year-of-age female group ( β =0.196, 95% CI: 0.081, 0.311). In the male group, enterodiol (END) was significantly positively correlated with TSH and TT 3 in the 12–19-year-of-age group, respectively (TT 3 : β =3.444, 95% CI: 0.150, 6.737; TSH: β =0.104, 95% CI: 0.005, 0.203). However, equol (EQU) levels were negatively associated with TT 4 (12–19-year-of-age: β =− 0.166, 95% CI: − 0.279, − 0.034; 20–60-year-of-age: β =− 0.132, 95% CI: − 0.230, − 0.034). Our study provided epidemiological evidence that urinary phytoestrogens were powerfully associated with thyroid hormone levels. The results also supported that phytoestrogens acted as endocrine disruptors. It is imperative and important to pay attention to the intake of phytoestrogens.