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. 2015 Oct;123(10):1015-21.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.1409062. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Association of Prenatal Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Traits in Early Childhood: The Rhea Mother-Child Cohort (Crete, Greece)

Marina Vafeiadi  1 , Vaggelis Georgiou, Georgia Chalkiadaki, Panu Rantakokko, Hannu Kiviranta, Marianna Karachaliou, Eleni Fthenou, Maria Venihaki, Katerina Sarri, Maria Vassilaki, Soterios A Kyrtopoulos, Emily Oken, Manolis Kogevinas, Leda Chatzi
Affiliations

Association of Prenatal Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Traits in Early Childhood: The Rhea Mother-Child Cohort (Crete, Greece)

Marina Vafeiadi et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may increase risk of obesity later in life.

Objective: We examined the relation of in utero POPs exposure to offspring obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors at 4 years of age in the Rhea mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece (n = 689).

Methods: We determined concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in first-trimester maternal serum. We measured child weight, height, waist circumference, skinfold thicknesses, blood pressure (BP), blood levels of lipids, C-reactive protein, and adipokines at 4 years of age. Childhood obesity was defined using age- and sex-specific cut points for body mass index (BMI) as recommended by the International Obesity Task Force.

Results: On multivariable regression analyses, a 10-fold increase in HCB was associated with a higher BMI z-score (adjusted β = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.86), obesity [relative risk (RR) = 8.14; 95% CI: 1.85, 35.81], abdominal obesity (RR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.08, 11.28), greater sum of skinfold thickness (β = 7.71 mm; 95% CI: 2.04, 13.39), and higher systolic BP (β = 4.34 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.63, 8.05) at 4 years of age. Prenatal DDE exposure was associated with higher BMI z-score (β = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.5), abdominal obesity (RR = 3.76; 95% CI: 1.70, 8.30), and higher diastolic BP (β = 1.79 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.13, 3.46). PCBs were not significantly associated with offspring obesity or cardiometabolic risk factors.

Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to DDE and HCB was associated with excess adiposity and higher blood pressure levels in early childhood.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
GAMS for adjusted associations (95% CIs) of HCB overall (A) and in boys (B) and girls (C), DDE overall (D) and in boys (E) and girls (F), and PCBs overall (G) and in boys (H) and girls (I) with BMI z-score at 4 years. Adjusted for maternal serum triglycerides and cholesterol, maternal age, prepregnancy BMI, parity, maternal educational level, smoking status during pregnancy, breastfeeding duration, child sex, birth weight, gestational age, and exact age at 4-year examination. Plus symbols (+) represent observations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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