If you are trying to get pregnant without success, you may be interested to know that a new study has shown an association between exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) and the blood levels of thyroid and reproductive hormones in men.
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to affect hormone levels in animals, and recent studies suggest that the widely used compound may have similar effects in humans.
More than 90% of the U.S. population is exposed to BPA, usually through diet. The chemical was first manufactured in 1891, and has been shown to have estrogenic properties in animals.
To date, there have been very few studies that have examined the likelihood of BPA affecting hormonal levels in people. The results of this new study were published in the journal “Environmental Science and Technology” and have added to a growing body of research.
There are many everyday consumer products that contain BPA. For example, it is found in hard polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and certain water bottles.
It may also be found in the lining of cans, both food and beverage, thermal papers, plus dental fillings and sealants.
Many manufacturers have recently removed BPA from baby and children’s items.
In this recent study, researchers studied the urine of 167 men who were recruited through a Massachusetts infertility clinic. They measured the concentration of BPA in the urine and then determined hormone levels in their blood.
The researchers found that the men with higher urine BPA concentrations had higher blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lower levels of inhibin B.
Elevated FSH and low inhibin B have been associated with poor sperm quality in humans.
This study also showed a reduction of the ratio of estrogen to testosterone, which may reflect an abnormality in the production or the elimination of these hormones.
In addition, lower Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, or TSH was observed when data on multiple BPA measurements were used to assess exposure. This suggests excessive thyroid hormone production, which is called a hyperthyroidic effect.
It is important to note that BPA and hormone levels were measured simultaneously and that in some cases, BPA was determined in samples collected after hormone measurement.
Therefore, it is possible that hormonal status may have altered urinary excretion of BPA – rather than BPA affecting hormone levels.
However, results from this study are supported by animal studies that show altered hormone levels in animals exposed to BPA.
Source: Environmental Science & Technology
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