Endocrine Aspects of Environmental “Obesogen” Pollutants

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests the causal link between the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and the global obesity epidemics, in the context in the so-called “obesogenic environment”. Dietary intake of contaminated foods and water, especially in association with unhealthy eating pattern, and inhalation of airborne pollutants represent the major sources of human exposure to EDCs. This is of particular concern in view of the potential impact of obesity on chronic non-transmissible diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hormone-sensitive cancers. The key concept is the identification of adipose tissue not only as a preferential site of storage of EDCs, but also as an endocrine organ and, as such, susceptible to endocrine disruption. The timing of exposure to EDCs is critical to the outcome of that exposure, with early lifetime exposures (e.g., fetal or early postnatal) particularly detrimental because of their permanent effects on obesity later in life. Despite that the mechanisms operating in EDCs effects might vary enormously, this minireview is aimed to provide a general overview on the possible association between the pandemics of obesity and EDCs, briefly describing the endocrine mechanisms linking EDCs exposure and latent onset of obesity.

Exposure to indoor endocrine‐disrupting chemicals and childhood asthma and obesity

“…In obesity, EDCs inappropriately regulate lipid metabolism and adipogenesis by targeting peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARα, δ and γ) and the retinoic X receptor (RXR), which are essential for the control of intracellular lipid homeostasis as well as the proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in adipocytes, thus increasing adipogenesis . Obesogenic effects of EDCs may also be mediated by the methylation of PPARγ and RXRα, changing the regulation of adipogenesis and increasing triglycerides accumulation, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity in mature adipocytes . Additionally, Baillie‐Hamilton reported that exposure to different chemicals, such as EDCs, is also associated with weight gain, possibly by interfering with the normal activity of the ANS.…”

Endocrine Disruption by Mixtures in Topical Consumer Products

“…Further roles of endocrine disruption have been found in relation to metabolic disorders, including alteration of cholesterol metabolism, weight gain, obesity [56][57][58] and type 1 and 2 diabetes [22,59].…”

Obesity and Environmental Pollutants

“…Many environmental chemicals affect actions of hormones so these chemicals have been defined as endocrine-disrupting chemicals(EDCs) or endocrine disruptors [1,7] .With the increase in production of EDCs in the world parallels the global obesity prevalence increases [8,9] . Obesogens as xenobiotic chemicals which bring about decreasing detoxification mechanism of body can alter the normal progress of adipogenesis or energy balance [3,8,10,11] . Some obesogens are found in nature such as phytoestrogens and the others are mostly synthetic chemicals.…”

“…It is ubiquitous in food and beverage containers, baby bottles,toys,dental sealants.Foods and beverage can be contaminated by BPA as a result of heating or acidic/basic condition during storage [1,8] . Phythalates are diester of phthalic acid .They are used in commonly plastic scuh as polyvinyl chloride and some products such as food and beverage packaging, soaps, shampoos,cosmetics and hair sprays [8] . Parabens are mostly found in personal care products, foods, pharmaceutical products and paper products [1,21] .…”

“…Increased consumption of soy products and soy supplements cause exposure to phytoestrogens.Genstein which is predominant isoflavon in soybean is responsible of changes in the metabolic and adipogenic regulators such as PPAR gama [8,21,23] . Recent experimental data supported that genistein dysregulates the body composition, in a dose-dependent and gender-specific manner, disrupting and reprogramming the signals dictating adipose tissue expansion, likely throughout the early-life epigenetic regulation of Wnt10b, a further key adipogenic gene in adipose tissue [8,24] . Polychlorinated Bisphenols are organic chemicals and found in electricam equipment.Some PBCs are identified as EDCs because of their estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects [8,25] .…”