Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Rapid Growth and Overweight in Infancy

Abstract

Experimental studies suggest prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure may induce offspring weight gain. Little is known about these effects in humans. We examined the effects of prenatal BPA exposure on postnatal rapid growth and obesity‐related outcomes [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC)] in 402 children from the INMA‐Sabadell birth cohort (Spain). The average of the two BPA concentrations measured in maternal urine collected in the 1st and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy was used to assess prenatal exposure. Rapid infant growth was defined as an increase in weight z‐score >;0.67 in the first 6 months of life. BMI z‐scores at 14 months and 4 years of age were calculated using the WHO referent, and overweight was defined as a z‐score ≥the 85th percentile. Age and sex standardised WC z‐scores were calculated using the analysis population mean. BPA did not influence rapid infant growth, or WC or BMI at 14 months. However at 4 years, increases in BPA were associated with increased WC z‐scores and BMI z‐scores. Findings suggest that BPA does not increase obesity risk early in infancy but may increases the risk of excess weight gained at later ages. Support: RecerCaixa 2010ACUP 00349