Bisphenol A and Diabetes

Filed in archive News , Notable , Research on September 16, 2008

© Diana Blackwell

High concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA) in the urine has been found associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities.

Such were the findings reported in the September 17 issue of JAMA which coincided with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing on BPA - the most common chemical compound found in plastics and plastic products.

The researchers found that average BPA concentrations, adjusted for age and sex, appeared higher in those who reported diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A 1-Standard Deviation (SD) increase in BPA concentration was associated with a 39 percent increased odds of cardiovascular disease (angina, coronary heart disease, or heart attack combined) and diabetes.

When dividing BPA concentrations into quartiles, participants in the highest BPA concentration quartile had nearly three times the odds of cardiovascular disease compared with those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, those in the highest BPA concentration quartile had 2.4 times the odds of diabetes compared with those in the lowest quartile.

In addition, higher BPA concentrations were associated with clinically abnormal concentrations for three liver enzymes. No associations with other diagnoses were observed.

Maybe finally the Bisphenol A will be axed in the United States market? I just wish that the rest of the world will follow suit.

Read more from JAMA News.