Association between Levels of Urine Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate Metabolites and Heart Rate Variability in Young Adults.

Ching-Way Chen,Chien-Yu Lin,Shu-Yu Tang,Ta-Chen Su,Jin-Shiang Hwang,Chang-Chuan Chan,Cheng-Chih Hsu

doi:10.3390/toxics9120351

Abstract

Phthalate exposure is associated with cardiovascular risk. Among the various phthalates, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a deleterious plasticizer in our daily lives. This study investigated the association between DEHP exposure and the alteration of heart rate variability (HRV). During 2017–2019, we recruited 974 young adults to investigate the effects of living environments and dietary habits on cardiometabolic disorders in Taiwan. We quantitatively analyzed urinary metabolites of DHEP. A continuous electrocardiogram was recorded to obtain a 5-min ECG. Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV analyses were performed. Multiple linear regression showed that urinary oxidized DEHP metabolites MEHHP and MEOHP were associated with decreased HRV after controlling for associated cardiovascular risk factors. A higher MEHHP level was associated with a lower triangular interpolation of NN interval histogram (TINN), very low frequency (VLF), and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio. A higher MEOHP level was associated with a decreased LF/HF ratio. In addition, trend analysis showed that higher MEHHP and MEOHP quantiles were significantly associated with a decreased LF/HF ratio. DEHP is a potentially harmful and invisible chemical. The urinary DEHP metabolites MEHHP and MEOHP are associated with decreased HRV, indicating an adverse effect on autonomic balance in young adults in Taiwan.

Highlights

Phthalate esters are colorless and odorless chemicals widely used as plasticizers to add flexibility and resilience to plastic products [1]
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer we encounter in daily life [2]
Urinary phthalates have been associated with a higher risk of stroke in the U.S [15], and we have demonstrated that increased di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure may be linked to patients with coronary heart diseases [16]

Summary

Introduction

Phthalate esters are colorless and odorless chemicals widely used as plasticizers to add flexibility and resilience to plastic products [1]. Phthalate esters are essential to make cosmetics, medical devices, plastic, and rubber products. They are hydrophobic and bound to polymers with noncovalent bonding and, readily leach into their environment. These chemicals are invisible chemicals and are hard to detect. Human exposure is possible through dietary ingestion, air inhalation, or direct contact. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer we encounter in daily life [2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion