Biomarkers of phthalates and inflammation: Findings from a subgroup of Women's Health Initiative participants

Avery Trim; Susan E. Hankinson; Simin Liu; Aladdin H. Shadyab; Jaymie Meliker; Wei Bao; Juhua Luo; Buyun Liu; JoAnn E. Manson; Lesley Tinker; Carol Bigelow; Katherine W. Reeves

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113743

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Biomarkers of phthalates and inflammation: Findings from a subgroup of Women's Health Initiative participants

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Biomarkers of phthalates and inflammation: Findings from a subgroup of Women's Health Initiative participants

Avery Trim, Susan E. Hankinson, Simin Liu, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Jaymie Meliker, Wei Bao, Juhua Luo, Buyun Liu, JoAnn E. Manson, Lesley Tinker, …

International journal of hygiene and environmental health, Vol.234, pp.113743-113743

05/2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113743

PMCID: PMC8096686

PMID: 33813346

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Abstract

Recent experimental work has shown that phthalates may increase inflammation. Prior research has not examined the role of exposure to phthalates in relation to inflammatory status among postmenopausal women who are at higher risk of developing inflammation-related chronic disorders. We aimed to examine the associations of urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations with circulating levels of c-reactive protein [CRP] and interleukin-6 [IL-6] among 443 postmenopausal women selected into a breast cancer case-control study nested within the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). A total of 13 phthalate metabolites were measured in urine samples provided at WHI enrollment from 1993 to 1998. We also measured baseline levels of CRP and IL-6 in these women's serum or plasma samples. Multivariable linear models were used to investigate the role of each phthalate biomarker in relation to CRP and IL-6, adjusting for potential confounding factors and specifically evaluating the role of BMI. In adjusted models we observed positive associations of monocarboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP) with CRP (β = 0.092; 95% CI 0.026, 0.158) and IL-6 (β = 0.108; 95% CI 0.013, 0.204). These positive associations were attenuated and non-significant, however, after further adjustment for body mass index (BMI). In contrast, we observed inverse associations of monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (β = −0.019; 95% CI -0.036, −0.001) and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) (β = −0.034; 95% CI -0.058, −0.010) with CRP levels only after adjustment for BMI. Other phthalate biomarkers examined were not significantly associated with either CRP or IL-6 levels. Overall, these results do not suggest an important role for phthalates in promoting an inflammatory response. Future prospective studies are warranted to improve understanding of these associations, particularly in clarifying the role of BMI.

Biomarkers

Epidemiology

Inflammation

CRP

IL-6

Phthalates

Postmenopausal

Details

Title: Subtitle: Biomarkers of phthalates and inflammation: Findings from a subgroup of Women's Health Initiative participants
Creators: Avery Trim - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Susan E. Hankinson - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Simin Liu - Brown Foundation
Aladdin H. Shadyab - University of California San Diego
Jaymie Meliker - Stony Brook University
Wei Bao - University of Iowa
Juhua Luo - Indiana University
Buyun Liu - University of Iowa
JoAnn E. Manson - Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lesley Tinker - Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Carol Bigelow - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Katherine W. Reeves - University of Massachusetts Amherst
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of hygiene and environmental health, Vol.234, pp.113743-113743
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113743
PMID: 33813346
PMCID: PMC8096686
NLM abbreviation: Int J Hyg Environ Health
ISSN: 1438-4639
eISSN: 1618-131X
Publisher: Elsevier GmbH
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000050, name: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Language: English
Date published: 05/2021
Academic Unit: Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9984364385402771

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