Association of Phthalate Plasticizers With Sex Steroid Hormones in Hispanic Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [ID 970]

INTRODUCTION: Phthalates are synthetic chemicals commonly used in industrial/commercial products. Evidence suggests that exposure to phthalates may affect the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, total testosterone (TT) levels, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Dysregulation of sex hormones is associated with multiple diseases, including endocrine cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metabolic abnormalities. We examined the association of exposure to phthalates with sex hormone levels, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center–El Paso ob-gyn clinics including U.S.-born, nonpregnant, Hispanic women, aged 18–40, with negative history of contraception within the past 2 months. Exposure to eight phthalates, including diisobutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl isophthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, and butyl isobutyl phthalate, was measured in urine by GC-MS. Total testosterone and SHBG were quantified by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Data was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation tests. RESULTS: Forty participants were considered eligible for the analysis. Mean body mass index (BMI) for PCOS participants and controls was greater than 30. Polycystic ovary syndrome participants had lower SHBG (40.10) and higher TT (63.45) than controls. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl isophthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate were negatively correlated with SHBG, whereas TT was positively correlated with di-2-ethylhexylisophthalate in the entire cohort. For PCOS women, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl isophthalate were significantly negatively correlated with SHBG only after adjusting metabolic syndrome, obesity, and demographics. None of the phthalates was significantly associated with BMI. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: There is a direct association between phthalates and lower SHBG but not testosterone independent of BMI or elements of metabolic syndrome.