Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024;97(4):388-396.
doi: 10.1159/000535305. Epub 2023 Nov 16.

Urinary Bisphenol A and Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations in Children with Obesity: A Case-Control Study

Annalisa Deodati  1   2 , Giorgia Bottaro  1 , Daniela Germani  2 , Fabrizia Carli  3 , Sabrina Tait  4 , Luca Busani  4 , Veronica Della Latta  3 , Anna Paola Pala  3 , Francesca Maranghi  4 , Roberta Tassinari  4 , Amalia Gastaldelli  3 , Cinzia La Rocca  4 , Stefano Cianfarani  1   2   5 ; LIFE PERSUADED Project Group
Affiliations

Urinary Bisphenol A and Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations in Children with Obesity: A Case-Control Study

Annalisa Deodati et al. Horm Res Paediatr. 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a worldwide public health problem. Experimental animal and in vitro studies suggest that the exposure to BPA and phthalates are associated to a higher risk of obesity.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine urinary excretion of bisphenol A and phthalates in obese and normal weight children.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in 122 children. Sixty-six obese children, 36 girls (mean age 8.41 ± 1.27 years), and 30 boys (mean age 8.51 ± 1.33 years) and 56 normal weight children, 27 girls (mean age 7.64 ± 1.49 years), and 29 boys (mean age 7.77 ± 1.56 years) were studied. Urinary BPA and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites (MEHP, MEHHP, and MEOHP) were measured, respectively, by gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Individual determinants of exposure were evaluated through "ad hoc" questionnaires.

Results: BPA and DEHP metabolites were detectable in obese and normal weight children. Obese girls showed significantly higher BPA concentrations in comparison with normal weight girls (means 10.77, 95% CI = 7.02-16.53 vs. 5.50, 95% CI = 3.93-7.71 μg/g creatinine, respectively, p < 0.02). The first step of DEHP metabolic rate was significantly higher in obese girls compared with controls (p < 0.05). DEHP metabolites correlated significantly with leptin concentrations in obese girls (p < 0.03). A higher risk of obesity was found in children with BPA levels above the median values with the habit to eat food packaged (OR = 11.09, 95% CI = 1.28-95.78).

Conclusions: These findings show that a higher exposure to BPA is associated with the risk of obesity in girls. Further studies are needed to unveil the cause-effect relationship.

Keywords: Bisphenol A; Children; Obesity; Phthalates.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare, except Stefano Cianfarani who is the Editor-in-Chief of Hormone Research in Pediatrics.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
BPA concentrations in obese girls (n = 36) and controls (n = 27). Values are expressed as means ± SD. *p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Caprio S, Santoro N, Weiss R. Childhood obesity and the associated rise in cardiometabolic complications. Nat Metab. 2020;2(3):223–32. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Heindel JJ, Newbold R, Schug TT. Endocrine disruptors and obesity. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2015;11:653–61. - PubMed
    1. Heindel JJ, Blumberg B. Environmental obesogens: mechanisms and controversies. Annu Rev Pharmacol. 2019;59:89–106. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kahn LG, Philippat C, Nakayama SF, Slama R, Trasande L. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: implications for human health. Lancet Diabetes Endo. 2020;8:703–18. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Barouki R, Gluckman PD, Grandjean P, Hanson M, Heindel JJ. Developmental origins of non-communicable disease: implications for research and public health. Environ Health. 2012;11:42. - PMC - PubMed