Background
Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are increasingly used to
substitute bisphenol A (BPA), a widespread environmental endocrine disruptor
and putative obesogen. However, studies on effects of BPF and BPS on obesity
in humans are lacking. We examined the associations of BPA, BPF, and BPS
exposure with obesity in U.S. adults.
Methods
We included 1,521 participants aged 20 years or older from a
cross-sectional study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
2013–2014. Urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations were measured
using on-line solid phase extraction coupled to high performance liquid
chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. We used body mass index and
waist circumference to define general obesity and abdominal obesity,
respectively. We used logistic regression with sample weights to estimate
the odds ratios (ORs) of obesity and 95% confidence intervals.
Findings
Higher BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations were observed in obese adults
than non-obese adults. After adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic,
lifestyle factors, and urinary creatinine concentrations, BPA, but not BPF
or BPS, was significantly associated with obesity. The OR of general obesity
was 1.78 (1.10–2.89) comparing the highest with lowest quartile of
BPA, 1.02 (0.70–1.47) for BPF, and 1.22 (0.81–1.83) for BPS.
The corresponding OR for abdominal obesity was 1.55 (1.04–2.32) for
BPA, 1.05 (0.68–1.63) for BPF, and 1.16 (0.72–1.88) for
BPS.
Interpretation
Whereas there were significant associations of BPA exposure with
general and abdominal obesity, BPF or BPS, at current exposure level, was
not significantly associated with obesity in U.S. adults. Continued
biomonitoring of these bisphenols in populations and further investigations
on their health effects in humans are warranted.