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Exposure to bisphenol A is directly associated with inflammation in healthy Korean adults

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Abstract

It was recently discovered that bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are cardiovascular disruptors. Inflammation is central to the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated whether BPA and different phthalate metabolites are associated with the inflammation marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in healthy Korean adults. This research is part of an ongoing, population-based study of Korean adults (30–64 years of age) conducted at the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC). The study enrolled 200 healthy volunteers (96 men, 104 women). Plasma hs-CRP was measured as an inflammation marker. BPA and five phthalate metabolites in urine were analyzed by using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. BPA and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) differed significantly between the low-hs-CRP (<2 mg/L) and high-hs-CRP (≥2 mg/L) groups. BPA and MBzP were related to hs-CRP in an inverted L-shaped manner. High BPA levels (≥75th percentile) had significant odd ratios (ORs) for high hs-CRP even after adjusting for confounding factors related to obesity and insulin resistance, such as visceral fat volume, body mass index (BMI), adiponectin, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (OR = 2.85; 95 % CI, 1.16–6.97). However, there was no significant association for MBzP ≥75th percentile. BPA was significantly related to high hs-CRP, even after adjusting for factors related to obesity and insulin resistance. Therefore, BPA could have a direct relationship with systemic inflammation regardless of obesity or insulin resistance.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea (No. HI13C0715).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea

    Yong Jun Choi, Kyoung Hwa Ha & Dae Jung Kim

  2. Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea

    Yong Jun Choi, Kyoung Hwa Ha & Dae Jung Kim

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  1. Yong Jun Choi
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  2. Kyoung Hwa Ha
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Correspondence to Dae Jung Kim.

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Choi, Y.J., Ha, K.H. & Kim, D.J. Exposure to bisphenol A is directly associated with inflammation in healthy Korean adults. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 284–290 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7806-7

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