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A new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has found a significant link between prenatal exposure to a combination of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and poorer metabolic health in childhood, potentially increasing the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adulthood. This research, supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation, has been published in JAMA Network Open.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—including abdominal obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance—that heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have identified connections between individual prenatal exposures to EDCs and some components of MetS, particularly obesity and blood pressure. The current study, part of the ATHLETE project, aimed to evaluate the combined effects of multiple EDCs on all MetS factors.
The study involved 1,134 mothers and their children from six European countries: Spain, France, Greece, Lithuania, Norway, and the United Kingdom. These participants were volunteers from the HELIX (Human Early Life Exposome) cohort. Researchers analyzed prenatal exposure to 45 endocrine disruptors using blood and urine samples collected from the mothers during pregnancy or from the umbilical cord after birth.
When the children were between 6 and 11 years old, they underwent follow-up examinations, including clinical assessments, interviews, and biological sample collections. The data collected included waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels, which were combined to create a metabolic syndrome risk index.
Mercury, PFAS, Organophosphates, and PBDEs
Statistical analyses revealed that mixtures of metals, perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), organochlorine pesticides, and flame retardants (PBDEs) were associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Among metals, mercury was the primary concern, with its main source being the consumption of large fish.
PFASs, often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their persistence in the environment, are widely used in products such as pesticides, paints, non-stick pans, and fast food packaging. Despite being banned in Europe since the 1970s, organochlorine pesticides remain prevalent due to their environmental persistence.
Sex-Specific Differences in EDC Effects
The study also found sex-specific differences in the associations between EDC exposure and metabolic health. Girls showed stronger associations with mixtures of PFASs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), while boys were more susceptible to parabens. “Since endocrine disruptors interfere with sex steroid hormones, these differences fall within what would be expected,” explained Nuria Güil Oumrait, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.
“Our results suggest that exposure to widespread mixtures of endocrine disruptors during pregnancy may be associated with adverse metabolic health in both boys and girls. This association may contribute to the current increase in the prevalence of lifetime metabolic syndrome, which currently affects 1/4 of the adult population, with upward trends evident even among young people,” concluded Martine Vrijheid, co-director of ISGlobal’s Environment and Health over the Lifespan program and senior author of the study.
This study underscores the importance of addressing prenatal exposure to EDCs to mitigate long-term health risks associated with metabolic syndrome.
