Positive Relationship between Androgen and the Endocrine Disruptor, Bisphenol A, in Normal Women and Women with Ovarian Dysfunction

Abstract

Abstract. This study was performed to investigate the serum levels of bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, in women with ovarian dysfunction and obesity. Fasting serum samples were obtained from 19 non-obese and 7 obese women with normal menstrual cycles: 7 patients with hyperprolactinemia, 21 patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea, and 13 non-obese and 6 obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). BPA was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. BPA was detected in all human sera. Serum BPA concentrations were significantly higher in both non-obese and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (1.05 ± 0.10 ng/ml, 1.17 ± 0.16 ng/ml; p<0.05, respectively) and obese normal women (1.04 ± 0.09 ng/ml, p<0.05) compared with those in non-obese normal women (0.71 ± 0.09 ng/ ml). There was no difference among women with hyperprolactinemia, women with hypothalamic amenorrhea, and nonobese normal women. There were significant positive correlations between serum BPA and total testosterone (r = 0.391, p<0.001), free testosterone (r = 0.504, p<0.001), androstenedione (r = 0.684, p<0.001), and DHEAS (r = 0.514, p<0.001) concentrations in all subjects. These findings show that there is a strong relationship between serum BPA and androgen concentrations, speculatively due to the effect of androgen on the metabolism of BPA.

Bisphenol A exposure and associations with obesity among adults: a critical review

“…For six of the articles, body composition (BMI, WC and/or weight) was the primary outcome of interest (62)(63)(64)67,71,74) . Seven studies included only women (65,67,69,73,74,77,78) , nine of the studies were in general adult populations (62)(63)(64)66,67,70,71,75,76) , one study included men and women ≥60 years (72) and another included only 70-year-old men and women (79) .…”

Urinary, Circulating, and Tissue Biomonitoring Studies Indicate Widespread Exposure to Bisphenol A

“…Seventeen studies have measured BPA in blood and serum samples from healthy male and nonpregnant female adults (Dirtu et al 2008;Fung et al 2000;He et al 2009;Hiroi et al 2004;Ikezuki et al 2002;Inoue et al 2000Inoue et al , 2001Kaddar et al 2009;Kuroda et al 2003;Liu et al 2007;Sajiki et al 1999;Sugiura-Ogasawara et al 2005;Takeuchi and Tsutsumi 2002;Takeuchi et al 2004;Volkel et al 2005;Yang M et al 2009;Yoshimura et al 2002) (Table 3). Of these studies, five used ELISA, one used a radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the remainder used analytical chemistry to assess BPA concentrations.…”

“…Two studies found women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) had higher serum levels of BPA than did healthy control women (Takeuchi and Tsutsumi 2002;Takeuchi et al 2004). These studies also found a positive association between serum testosterone levels and BPA concentrations; this finding is especially interesting because it provides a potential basis for gender-biased exposures or metabolism of BPA (Takeuchi et al 2006).…”

Elevated Serum Bisphenol A Levels under Hyperandrogenic Conditions may be Caused by Decreased UDP-glucuronosyltransferase Activity

“…We reported that BPA was detectable not only in the serum but also in several biological fluids, including amniotic fluid, demonstrating human fetal exposure to BPA through the placenta [15]. It is interesting to note that there was a gender difference in serum BPA concentrations in humans [16] and, more recently, determination of serum BPA concentrations in women with or without ovarian dysfunction revealed that BPA levels may vary according to the endocrinological status of subjects [17]. BPA levels in patients with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer, both of which are estrogen-related uterine disorders, were lower compared to those in normal controls [18].…”