BPA Linked to Heart Disease and Diabetes, Again

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BPA Linked to Heart Disease and Diabetes, Again

Janelle Sorensen

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Just days after the US Food and Drug Administration expressed concern about bisphenol-a (BPA) and pledged to look into potential health impacts further, a new study found links between BPA and two of the most common health conditions plaguing Americans today - heart disease and diabetes.

While the new study does not prove that BPA definitively causes these conditions, there was clearly an association. According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, of the 1,455 adults tested, the higher the level of BPA in their urine, the higher their rates of heart disease and diabetes. The scientists also found a link between abnormal liver enzymes in people and levels of BPA, which may mean that the chemical impacts liver function.

This is the second major study showing links to these conditions. An August 2008 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that BPA at levels well-within the range of common human exposure suppresses levels of a hormone that protects people from metabolic syndrome (associated with obesity) and its consequences: heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

BPA is one of the highest-volume synthetic chemicals in the world, with over two million tons used worldwide each year, and the US Centers for Disease Control has found in the bodies of more than 90% of Americans. BPA leaches from polycarbonate plastic containers and the epoxy linings of canned foods and beverages. Learn more about BPA and how to reduce your exposure.

Posted by Emily Lynne Ion on 01/28/2010 at 01:21 PM

Our apologies, Anne!

I’ve added a direct link to the study in addition to the JAMA website. Also, here’s a great analysis by WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20100112/bpa-link-to-heart-disease-confirmed

Thanks for bringing this to my attention!

Emily
Healthy Child Staff

Posted by Anne on 01/28/2010 at 09:17 AM

Great article—thank you for sharing this information! Can you please give us a reference to the actual study you’re citing as well? The AMA link goes only to their general web site, and thus far I’ve only been able to locate and older study.

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