Associations between Urinary Phthalates and Metabolic Syndrome in NHANES 2005-2010
Abstract
Phthalates, commonly used to make plastics more durable, are a group of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), with potential for adverse metabolic consequences. Associations between exposure to 13 phthalate metabolites and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) were examined among 5,409 U.S adults ≥ 18 years of age, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005-2010. MetS was assessed using clinical and questionnaire data. Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) adjusting for age, creatinine and key confounders, were estimated with multivariable logistic regression. Positive associations were observed between individual phthalate metabolites and MetS: (MCOP OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.40, 1.64, p-trend<.01; MCPP OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.09, 1.77, p-trend=0.01). In gender stratified analyses, findings with MCOPP and MCPP were restricted to women only. Phthalate metabolites may increase the prevalence of MetS; however, further studies are needed to better understand the role of EDCs in the development of MetS.