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Prenatal Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Exposure and Body Mass Index in Children Up To 8 Years of Age

Ann M Vuong1, Joseph M Braun, Andreas Sjödin

  • 1Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Environmental Health Perspectives
|June 11, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was not linked to height or weight in children. However, higher maternal PBDE levels, particularly BDE-153, were associated with lower BMI, waist circumference, and body fat in children up to 8 years old.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental health
  • Toxicology
  • Pediatric health

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors is linked to childhood obesity.
  • Epidemiologic data on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as obesogens are limited.
  • Animal studies suggest PBDEs may play a role in obesity development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal serum PBDE concentrations during pregnancy and anthropometric measures in children aged 1-8 years.
  • To examine specific PBDE congeners (BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153) and their relation to child body composition.
  • To assess the potential of PBDEs as obesogens in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 318 mother-child pairs from the HOME Study cohort (Cincinnati, OH, 2003-2006).
  • Maternal serum PBDEs measured during pregnancy; child anthropometry (height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat) assessed up to age 8.
  • Linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations used to analyze associations, accounting for repeated measures.

Main Results:

  • No significant associations found between prenatal PBDEs and child height or weight z-scores.
  • A 10-fold increase in maternal BDE-153 was linked to lower BMI z-score, smaller waist circumference, and reduced body fat percentage in children.
  • Increased BDE-100 and total PBDEs (ΣPBDEs) were associated with decreased waist circumference.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest a potential inverse relationship between certain prenatal PBDE exposures and child adiposity, possibly due to reverse causality.
  • BDE-153, BDE-100, and total PBDEs may influence child body composition, warranting further investigation.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the complex role of PBDEs in child development and obesity risk.
Abstract

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