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Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) during childhood and adiposity measures at age 8 years
Ann M Vuong1, Joseph M Braun2, Zhiyang Wang1
1Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
Insights
Childhood exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) showed inverse associations with adiposity. Higher BDE-153 levels in children were linked to lower body fat, especially when measured closer to age 8.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Animal studies suggest polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may promote obesity.
- Epidemiologic studies on childhood PBDE exposure and adiposity are limited, with some showing inverse associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between repeated childhood PBDE concentrations and adiposity measures at age 8.
- To explore age-specific relationships between PBDE exposure and body composition in children.
Main Methods:
- Examined 206 children from a Cincinnati birth cohort.
- Measured serum PBDEs at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years.
- Assessed adiposity (weight, height, waist circumference, body fat %) at age 8 using multiple informant models.
Main Results:
- Significant inverse associations were observed between BDE-153 and all adiposity measures.
- A 10-fold increase in BDE-153 at age 8 was linked to a 7% decrease in body fat.
- Inverse associations were stronger in boys and became stronger with later childhood measurements.
Conclusions:
- Childhood BDE-153 concentrations were inversely associated with adiposity.
- Associations strengthened as PBDE measurements were closer to adiposity assessment.
- Potential reverse causality due to PBDE storage in adipose tissue is considered.
Background:
Animal studies suggest polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may be obesogens. However, epidemiologic studies investigating childhood exposure to PBDEs and adiposity are limited, with several reporting an inverse association.
Objectives:
To investigate associations between repeated childhood PBDE concentrations and adiposity measures at age 8 years.
Methods:
We examined 206 children from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort in Cincinnati, OH (2003-2006). Serum PBDEs were measured at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years. We used multiple imputation to estimate missing PBDE concentrations. At 8 years, we measured weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. We used multiple informant models to estimate age-specific associations between PBDEs and adiposity measures.
Results:
We observed significant inverse associations between BDE-153 with all adiposity measures that became increasingly stronger with later childhood measurements. A 10-fold increase in BDE-153 at ages 1 and 8 years was associated with 2% (95% CI -3.9, -0.1) and 7% (95% CI -9.1, -4.7) lower body fat, respectively. No statistically significant associations were found with BDE-28, -47, -99, or -100. Child sex modified some associations; inverse associations between BDE-153 and body fat were stronger among boys, while positive and null associations were noted among girls.
Conclusions:
Childhood BDE-153 concentrations were inversely associated with adiposity measures and these associations became stronger as BDE-153 measurements were more proximal to adiposity measures. Inverse associations could be attributed to reverse causality arising from greater storage of PBDEs in adipose tissue of children with higher adiposity.
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