Abstract
BackgroundExposure to bisphenols and phthalates might influence bone health. We hypothesized that exposure to bisphenols and phthalates during fetal life has persistent effects on bone development. ObjectivesTo analyze the associations of fetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates with bone health in school-aged children. MethodsAmong 1,362 mother-child pairs participating in a population-based cohort study, we measured maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenols and phthalates at first, second and third trimester with high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Total body bone mineral density (BMD) and bone area (BA) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at 6 and 10 years, and were both used to calculate bone mineral content (BMC) and area-adjusted BMC (aBMC, a measure of volumetric BMD). ResultsMaternal bisphenol concentrations were not associated with childhood bone measures at 6 years. After adjustment for covariates and multiple testing correction, an interquartile range increase in maternal first trimester bisphenol S (BPS) concentrations was associated with lower BMD and aBMC at 10 years (−6.08 (95% confidence interval (CI), −9.97 to −2.19) mg/cm2 and -0.12 (95% CI, −0.20 to −0.04) g). Maternal third trimester low molecular weight (LMW) phthalate concentrations were associated with higher aBMC at 6 years whereas, maternal third trimester di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP) concentrations were associated with lower aBMC at 10 years. However, these associations did not remain statistically significant after multiple testing correction. DiscussionMaternal first trimester BPS concentrations are associated with lower BMD and aBMC in school-aged children. These findings should be considered as hypothesis generating and need further replication and exploration of potential underlying mechanisms.
Highlights
Early-life exposure to environmental factors may lead to adaptations that permanently affect skeletal development and subsequently predispose individuals to impaired bone health and osteoporosis during the life course (Cooper et al, 2006)
Bisphenol and phthalate concentrations were measured among a subgroup of 1,405 mothers with three urine samples available in pregnancy and whose singleton children participated in postnatal studies (Philips et al, 2018)
In a population-based prospective cohort study, that higher maternal first trimester bisphenol S (BPS) concentrations were associated with lower childhood bone mineral density (BMD) and adjusted BMC (aBMC) at 10 years, but not at 6 years
Summary
Early-life exposure to environmental factors may lead to adaptations that permanently affect skeletal development and subsequently predispose individuals to impaired bone health and osteoporosis during the life course (Cooper et al, 2006). Bisphenols and phthalates are able to cross the placenta-blood barrier and may affect the developing fetus (Schonfelder et al, 2002; Silva et al, 2004) They act as selected modulators of estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and other receptors by activating several signaling cascades (Schantz and Widholm, 2001). After adjustment for covariates and multiple testing correction, an interquartile range increase in maternal first trimester bisphenol S (BPS) concentrations was associated with lower BMD and aBMC at 10 years (−6.08 (95% confidence interval (CI), −9.97 to −2.19) mg/cm and -0.12 (95% CI, −0.20 to −0.04) g). Discussion: Maternal first trimester BPS concentrations are associated with lower BMD and aBMC in school-aged children. These findings should be considered as hypothesis generating and need further replication and exploration of potential underlying mechanisms
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