Racial and Sex Differences between Urinary Phthalates and Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults: NHANES 2005–2014
Racial and Sex Differences between Urinary Phthalates and Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults: NHANES 2005–2014
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Date
2021-06-26
Authors
Ghosh, Rajrupa
Haque, Mefruz
Turner, Paul C.
Cruz-Cano, Raul
Dallal, Cher M.
Advisor
Citation
Ghosh, R.; Haque, M.; Turner, P.C.; Cruz-Cano, R.; Dallal, C.M. Racial and Sex Differences between Urinary Phthalates and Metabolic Syndrome among U.S. Adults: NHANES 2005–2014. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 6870.
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Abstract
Phthalates, plasticizers ubiquitous in household and personal care products, have been
associated with metabolic disturbances. Despite the noted racial differences in phthalate exposure
and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), it remains unclear whether associations between
phthalate metabolites and MetS vary by race and sex. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among
10,017 adults from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2005–2014). Prevalence
odds ratios (POR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for the association between
11 urinary phthalate metabolites and MetS using weighted sex and race stratified multivariable
logistic regression. Higher MCOP levels were significantly associated with increased odds of MetS
among women but not men, and only remained significant among White women (POR Q4 vs. Q1 = 1.68,
95% CI: 1.24, 2.29; p-trend = 0.001). Similarly, the inverse association observed with MEHP among
women, persisted among White women only (POR Q4 vs. Q1 = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.80; p-trend = 0.003).
However, SDEHP metabolites were associated with increased odds of MetS only among men, and
this finding was limited to White men (POR Q4 vs. Q1 = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.35; p-trend = 0.06).
Among Black men, an inverse association was observed with higher MEP levels (POR Q4 vs. Q1 = 0.43,
95% CI: 0.24, 0.77; p-trend = 0.01). The findings suggest differential associations between phthalate
metabolites and MetS by sex and race/ethnicity.
Notes
Partial funding for Open Access provided by the UMD Libraries' Open Access Publishing Fund.