Abstract
30% of men suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) worldwide. As one of the most important members of Phthalate esters, previous studies suggested ubiquitous Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure is associated with such male disorders by interfering with endocrine system, however, little is known about the association between DEHP exposure and BPH. The objective of this study was to study the potential association by the 2001–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The data was collected, and multiple logistic regression was adapted to measure the association. The concentrations of DEHP (∑DEHP) were calculated by each metabolite and split into quartiles for analysis. Results showed that the odds ratio (OR) decreased with increased ∑DEHP concentration. In the crude model, the OR for the second quartile (OR = 1.60, 95%CI [1.24, 2.07]) was obviously higher compared with the lowest quartile. However, the OR for the highest quartile (OR = 0.55, 95%CI [0.44,0.69]) was lower than that for the third quartile (OR = 0.77, 95%CI [0.61, 0.97]), and the OR for the third and the highest quartile were significantly lower than that of the lowest quartile, which suggested biphasic effects of DEHP based on concentration. The results showed the same trend after adjusting confounding factors. The study suggested that the DEHP exposure is associated with DEHP, and the results adds limited evidence to study this topic, however, further researches are needed to determine if the status of BPH can be changed by controlling DEHP exposure.
Highlights
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), as one of the most widely used plasticizers, is a recognized endocrine-disrupting compound, and it is ubiquitous in the environment because of its noncovalent and highly hydrophobic properties which allow Di-(2ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to escape from plastics [1]
A nationally representative crosssectional study was adapted to examine if the urinary DEHP was associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and if the DEHP and metabolites could be biomarkers for BPH
The results indicated a clear association between DEHP exposure and BPH
Summary
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), as one of the most widely used plasticizers, is a recognized endocrine-disrupting compound, and it is ubiquitous in the environment because of its noncovalent and highly hydrophobic properties which allow DEHP to escape from plastics [1]. DEHP can enter into body by various ways including inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure [2]. After uptake into the human body, the de-esterifiction of DEHP occurs under the influence of esterase or lipase, and DEHP transforms into its metabolites, such as. The Association Between DEHP Exposure and BPH. These toxicants are mainly eliminated in urine [4]. Previous studies suggested that DEHP and its metabolites can interfere with sex hormone levels in the body and have adverse effects on the male reproductive system, including decreased testosterone levels, sperm production, increased risk of infertility, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, and testicular cancer [5]. DEHP has been reported to be associated with prostate disorders in animal experiments [6]
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