Phthalate exposure increases subclinical atherosclerosis in young population

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Cardiovascular Science
• Toxicology

Background:

• The association between phthalate exposure and subclinical atherosclerosis in young populations is not well-established.
• Phthalates are common endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in various consumer products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in a young Taiwanese population.
• To assess the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with phthalate exposure in adolescents and young adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a nationwide mass urine screening of school children (ages 6-18) in Taiwan.
• Recruited 789 subjects for cardiovascular health examinations, measuring 7 urinary phthalate metabolites and CIMT in 787 participants.
• Employed multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression models for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Significant dose-response relationships were observed between urinary concentrations of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), ∑ di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and increased CIMT.
• Higher quartiles of MEHP, ∑DEHP, and MnBP were associated with a greater risk of thicker CIMT.
• For MEHP, the highest quartile showed an adjusted odds ratio of 7.39 for thicker CIMT compared to the lowest quartile.

Conclusions:

• Urinary phthalate metabolites MEHP, ∑DEHP, and MnBP are significantly associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in adolescents and young adults.
• Phthalate exposure may contribute to the development of subclinical atherosclerosis in younger populations.
• Findings highlight the potential cardiovascular risks of phthalate exposure during developmental stages.