Perinatal urinary benzophenone-3 concentrations and glucose levels among women from a fertility clinic.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Subfertile women have higher risk of glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Studies suggest associations between several endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pregnancy glucose levels. However, the association between benzophenone-3 (BP-3), an EDC widely found in sunscreen, and pregnancy glucose levels remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association between perinatal exposures to BP-3 and pregnancy glucose levels in subfertile women.

METHODS:

We evaluated 217 women from a prospective cohort based at a fertility clinic who had urinary BP-3 concentrations measured during 3-month preconception, first and/or second trimesters, and blood glucose measured at glucose load tests (GLTs) during late pregnancy. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between time-specific BP-3 in quartiles (Q1 - Q4) and mean glucose levels, as well as odds of abnormal GLT (glucose level ≥ 140 mg/dL), adjusting for potential confounders. Effect modification was assessed by age, season, BMI, infertility diagnosis, sex of fetus (es) and physical activity.

RESULTS:

Women with higher first trimester BP-3 concentrations had lower mean glucose levels [mean glucose (95% CI) for Q4 vs Q1 = 103.4 (95.0, 112.5) vs. 114.6 (105.8, 124.2) mg/dL]. Women with higher second trimester BP-3 concentrations had lower odds of abnormal GLT [OR (95% CI) for Q3 vs. Q1 = 0.12 (0.01, 0.94)]. The associations between BP-3 and glucose levels were modified by several factors: women with female-factor infertility, urine collected during summer, older age, lower BMI, or carried female fetus (es) had the strongest inverse associations between BP-3 and glucose levels, while no associations were observed in the remaining subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Time-specific inverse associations between BP-3 and pregnancy glucose levels existed in subfertile women, and especially among certain subgroups of this high-risk-population.

• Authors: Zifan Wang, Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, Paige L Williams, Andrea Bellavia, Jennifer B Ford, Myra Keller, John C Petrozza, Antonia M Calafat, Russ Hauser, Tamarra James-Todd
• Journal: Environmental health : a global access science source (Environ Health) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 45 (04 28 2020) ISSN: 1476-069X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32345324 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Benzophenones
• Blood Glucose
• oxybenzone

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Benzophenones (urine)
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Body Mass Index
• Boston
• Exercise
• Female
• Fertility Clinics
• Fetus (chemistry)
• Humans
• Infertility (diagnosis)
• Maternal Exposure
• Middle Aged
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Trimester, First
• Pregnancy Trimester, Second
• Pregnancy Trimester, Third
• Prospective Studies
• Seasons
• Sex Factors
• Young Adult