Women Exposed to Phthalate at Greater Risk of Diabetes

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics may raise the risk of diabetes in women, according to a recent study that was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Phthalates are chemicals that are typically present in plastics, such as those used to make toys, personal care products, and food and beverage packaging. Phthalate intake is associated with lower fertility, diabetes, and other endocrine disorders.

“Our research found phthalates may contribute to a higher incidence of diabetes in women, especially white women, over a six-year period,” said Sung Kyun Park, Sc.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, Mich. “People are exposed to phthalates daily increasing their risk of several metabolic diseases. It’s important that we address EDCs now as they are harmful to human health.”

In order to determine whether phthalates were a factor in the occurrence of diabetes in this cohort, researchers looked at 1,308 women from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation-(SWAN) over a six-year period. Over a six-year period, about 5% of the women developed diabetes. These women’s urine phthalate concentrations were comparable to those of middle-aged American women in the early 2000s when the urine samples were taken. While the dangerous compounds were not associated with diabetes in Black or Asian women, White women exposed to high levels of certain phthalates had an increased risk of 30–63%.

“Our research is a step in the right direction towards better understanding phthalates’ effect on metabolic diseases, but further investigation is needed,” Park said. The manuscript, “Phthalates and Incident Diabetes in Midlife Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN),” was published online, ahead of print.

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