Abstract
PURPOSE: Since the publication of the “obesogen hypothesis”, there has been considerable interest in the role of chemical exposures in the development of obesity and diabetes. A substantial body of literature supports an effect of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on diabetes risk. However, studies on the obesogenicity of POPs have not been conclusive for a number of reasons, including the predominance of cross sectional studies which are potential subject to reverse causality. METHODS: This study examined data from a cohort of 505 frequent and infrequent Great Lakes sport fish consumers collected from 1994-2010 to explore the hypothesis that exposure to POPs is related to obesity in adults. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were measured at baseline and the effect of individual PCB congeners and DDE on the rate of BMI change or BMI trajectory in the cohort was estimated using longitudinal models adjusting for age, age*time, sex, smoking status and education. RESULTS: Baseline BMI significantly modified associations of PCB congeners with BMI trajectory. In persons of normal BMI at baseline, PCB congeners were positively associated with BMI trajectory, with significant associations for PCBs 180, 182/187 and 201. In persons who were obese at baseline, PCB congeners were inversely associated with BMI trajectory, with associations reaching significance for PCBs 74, 118, and 138/163 and 180. DDE (quartile 4 versus quartile 1) was inversely associated with BMI trajectory and this association was not modified by baseline BMI. Conclusions: Associations of PCBs with the rate of BMI change over up to 17 years of follow up were modified by baseline BMI status. PCB congeners 180, 182/187 and 201 were significantly associated with greater rates of BMI change only in persons of normal weight at baseline. Additional longitudinal investigations are needed to better understand these complex interactions.
Published Version
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