Bisphenol A Affects Men’s Hormonal Profiles

While numerous studies demonstrate that bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical component in food and drink packaging, can alter endocrine function in animals, data relating to its impact in humans has been limited. Tamara Galloway, from University of Exeter (United Kingdom), and colleagues assessed the daily excretion of BPA in adults and examined potential associations with serum estrogen and testosterone concentrations.  The team studied 715 adults, ages 20 to 74 years.  Each subject provided a 24-hour urine sample, which was evaluated for serum concentrations of total testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol. In multivariable-adjusted models, higher daily excretion of BPA was found to significantly associate with higher total testosterone concentrations.  The team concludes that: “Higher BPA exposure may be associated with endocrine changes in men. The mechanisms involved in the observed cross-sectional association with total testosterone concentrations need to be clarified.”