Associations between serum phthalates and biomarkers of reproductive function in 589 adult men
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Associations between serum phthalates and biomarkers of reproductive function in 589 adult men. / Specht, Ina Olmer; Toft, Gunnar; Hougaard, Karin S; Lindh, Christian H; Lenters, Virissa; Jönsson, Bo A G; Heederik, Dick; Giwercman, Aleksander; Bonde, Jens Peter E.
In: Environment International, Vol. 66, 2014, p. 146-156.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between serum phthalates and biomarkers of reproductive function in 589 adult men
AU - Specht, Ina Olmer
AU - Toft, Gunnar
AU - Hougaard, Karin S
AU - Lindh, Christian H
AU - Lenters, Virissa
AU - Jönsson, Bo A G
AU - Heederik, Dick
AU - Giwercman, Aleksander
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter E
N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Phthalates which are widely used, are ubiquitous in the environment and in some human tissues. It is generally accepted that phthalates exert their toxic action by inhibiting Leydig cell synthesis of testosterone, but in vitro studies have also shown anti-androgenic effects at the receptor level. Some cross-sectional studies have shown inverse associations between urinary levels of phthalates and reproductive hormones, but results are conflicting and the evidence base is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate if levels of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) metabolites in serum are associated with serum concentrations of male reproductive hormones and semen quality. A secondary aim was to investigate metabolic pathways of DEHP and DiNP on semen quality and reproductive hormones. A cross-sectional sample of 589 spouses of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine were enrolled between 2002 and 2004. The men gave semen and blood samples and were interviewed. Six phthalate metabolites of DEHP and DiNP were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in serum. The metabolites were summed according to their molar weight. We observed significant inverse associations between serum levels of the metabolites, the proxies and serum testosterone. Negative associations were also discovered between some metabolites and sex hormone-binding globulin, semen volume and total sperm count. Findings are compatible with a weak anti-androgenic action of DEHP metabolites, but less so for DiNP metabolites. Metabolic pathways differed significantly between the three study sites, but without major effect on semen quality or reproductive hormones.
AB - Phthalates which are widely used, are ubiquitous in the environment and in some human tissues. It is generally accepted that phthalates exert their toxic action by inhibiting Leydig cell synthesis of testosterone, but in vitro studies have also shown anti-androgenic effects at the receptor level. Some cross-sectional studies have shown inverse associations between urinary levels of phthalates and reproductive hormones, but results are conflicting and the evidence base is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate if levels of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) metabolites in serum are associated with serum concentrations of male reproductive hormones and semen quality. A secondary aim was to investigate metabolic pathways of DEHP and DiNP on semen quality and reproductive hormones. A cross-sectional sample of 589 spouses of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine were enrolled between 2002 and 2004. The men gave semen and blood samples and were interviewed. Six phthalate metabolites of DEHP and DiNP were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in serum. The metabolites were summed according to their molar weight. We observed significant inverse associations between serum levels of the metabolites, the proxies and serum testosterone. Negative associations were also discovered between some metabolites and sex hormone-binding globulin, semen volume and total sperm count. Findings are compatible with a weak anti-androgenic action of DEHP metabolites, but less so for DiNP metabolites. Metabolic pathways differed significantly between the three study sites, but without major effect on semen quality or reproductive hormones.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Biological Markers
KW - Diethylhexyl Phthalate
KW - Environmental Pollutants
KW - Gonadal Hormones
KW - Greenland
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Phthalic Acids
KW - Poland
KW - Semen
KW - Semen Analysis
KW - Statistics as Topic
KW - Ukraine
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.002
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.002
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24583187
VL - 66
SP - 146
EP - 156
JO - Environment international
JF - Environment international
SN - 0160-4120
ER -
ID: 137616577