Relationship between Urinary Bisphenol A Levels and Diabetes Mellitus

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 96; no. 12; pp. 3822 - 3826
• Main Authors: Shankar, Anoop, Teppala, Srinivas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Oxford University Press 01.12.2011; Copyright by The Endocrine Society; Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Adult; Benzhydryl Compounds; Biological and medical sciences; Bisphenol A; Body mass index; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus - urine; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrine Research; Endocrinopathies; Epoxy resins; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Insulin resistance; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pancreas - physiopathology; Phenols - urine; Polycarbonate; Risk Factors; Smoking; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Endocrinopathy; Urine; Obesity; Nutrition; Diabetes mellitus; Nutrition disorder; Metabolic diseases; Endocrinology; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-1682

Background:Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Recent animal studies have suggested that BPA exposure may have a role in the development of weight gain, insulin resistance, pancreatic endocrine dysfunction, thyroid hormone disruption, and several other mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes. However, few human studies have examined the association between markers of BPA exposure and diabetes mellitus.Methods:We examined the association between urinary BPA levels and diabetes mellitus in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2008. Urinary BPA levels were examined in quartiles. The main outcome of interest was diabetes mellitus defined according the latest American Diabetes Association guidelines.Results:Overall, we observed a positive association between increasing levels of urinary BPA and diabetes mellitus, independent of confounding factors such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and serum cholesterol levels. Compared to quartile 1 (referent), the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of diabetes associated with quartile 4 was 1.68 (1.22–2.30) (p-trend = 0.002). The association was present among normal-weight as well as overweight and obese subjects.Conclusions:Urinary BPA levels are found to be associated with diabetes mellitus independent of traditional diabetes risk factors. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm or disprove this finding.