Is Helicobacter Pylori an endogenous source of diethyl phthalate in humans?

Abstract

Monoethyl phthalate (MEP) is a metabolite used to assess exposure to diethyl phthalate (DEP). Helicobacter Pylori (HP) has been shown to produce DEP in laboratory studies. We used NHANES 1999-2000 data for 1623 adults to investigate whether HP seropositivity was associated with MEP levels. MEP levels were higher in individuals with HP seropositivity (p=0.0237), however the association differed by race. These results suggest that HP may be an endogenous source of DEP in some populations.

Keywords: Diethyl phthalate; Helicobacter pylori; Microbiome; Monoethyl phthalate; NHANES.

Figure 1

Comparison of varying levels of MEP by race and HP status. R² = 0.014, interaction p-value = 0.095, race p-value = 0.027*.^{1 1} Parameter Estimates:​ Log₁₀ MEP = 2.14 - 0.015 β₁ + 0.047 β₂ + 0.040 β₃ - 0.072 β₄ + 0.031 β₁ *HP - 0.022 β₂ *HP - 0.052 β₃ *HP+ 0.043 β₄ *HP β₁ = Mexican American, β₂ = Other race/ethnicity, β₃ = Non-Hispanic Black,β₄= Non-Hispanic White. Non-Hispanic White was used as a control group.