Urinary Paraben Concentration and Its Association with Serum Triglyceride Concentration in 2013-2014 NHANES Participants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. Alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, colloquially known as parabens, are types of preservatives found in multiple foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products to which Americans are exposed daily. It is unclear if parabens exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties. Parabens may interact with triglycerides in adipose tissue and impact lipid metabolism. Objective. To evaluate the association between urinary paraben concentrations and serum triglyceride concentrations. Design. A cross-sectional study. Setting. The Mobile Examination Centers affiliated with 2013-2014 NHANES. Participant(s). 827 adults (20 years or older) affiliated with the 2013-2014 NHANES. Intervention(s). None. Main Outcome Measure(s). Triglyceride levels were associated with urinary paraben concentrations (methyl, ethyl, and propyl) using a hierarchical multiple regression, adjusting for ethnicity/race, gender, BMI, and age. Unadjusted results are also reported. Results. The geometric mean of the urinary concentration of methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben was 57.100, 2.537, and 6.537 ng/ml, respectively. Triglyceride concentrations were inversely associated with methylparaben (β = −0.092, P=0.07), ethylparaben (β = −0.066, P=0.045), and propylparaben (β = −0.076, P=0.025). Being female, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black were associated with decreasing triglyceride levels in the presence of methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben, and age, BMI, and being male were associated with increasing circulating triglycerides. Conclusion. Despite the potential detrimental effects of parabens on triglycerides, our results suggest that urinary excretions of methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben are associated with lower concentrations of circulating triglycerides in certain populations. Further research is needed to confirm the mechanisms and health impact of this relationship.

Investigation of the Combined Effects of Propylparaben and Methylparaben on Biochemical and Histological Parameters in Male Rats

“…Studies have shown a link between MeP and PrP excretion in urine and reduced levels of circulating triglycerides. 21 Recent molecular studies have provided further insight into this phenomenon. For instance, a study with zebrafish reported down-regulation of transcription factors involved in lipid homeostasis, including triglycerides, in the livers of female fish exposed to MeP.…”

Parabens Promote Pro-Tumorigenic Effects in Luminal Breast Cancer Cell Lines with Diverse Genetic Ancestry

“…The following concentrations were used for PP, MP, and BP: 0.002 µM, 0.02 µM, 0.2 µM, 2 µM, and 20 µM. These concentrations fall within the range of what has been measured in biological samples in the NHANES biomonitoring study [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and in breast tissue [21,22,[26][27][28][29]39]. Treatments were done in triplicates, and experiments were repeated six times.…”

“…Hormonally hazardous chemicals have been linked to breast cancer; specifically, studies have found estrogenic properties in paraben-laden hair and other personal care products that are heavily marketed to Black women [11][12][13]. Parabens have been measured in biological samples from the NHANES biomonitoring study; across studies, the median/mean of PP levels are 4-15 g/L [14][15][16][17][18][19][20], the range of BP levels are 0.2-1,240 g/L [15,20], and the mean of MP levels are 38-63 g/L [15,17,[20][21][22]. There are racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to parabens.…”

Measurement of Urinary Triclocarban and 2,4‐Dichlorophenol Concentration and Their Relationship with Obesity and Predictors of Cardiovascular Diseases among Children and Adolescents in Kerman, Iran

“…Environmental pollutants include the role of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) (such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan, triclocarban, and diphenols) in the development of chronic diseases. EDCs contain many chemicals used in industry, commerce, agriculture, and pharmacy that have entered the water, air, food, human life, and wildlife [16][17][18]. ey can disrupt the function of the endocrine system and thus be harmful to human health [1,2,12,19].…”