Dataset Information

Sex differences in children's cognitive functions and phthalates exposure: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Phthalates exposure might affect children's intelligence development. This study aimed to determine (1) whether sex and age affect cognitive function and (2) whether sex differences in cognitive performance are wider with higher phthalate concentrations.

Methods

Data were collected from PubMed (1998-2022), PROQUEST (1997-2022), and SpringerLink (1995-2022). The study followed the PRISMA process. The included articles were followed by PECO framework. The GRADE applied to assess the certainty of evidence. Of 2422 articles obtained, nine were selected using inclusion criteria. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effects.

Results

Our meta-regression indicated a significant difference between sex differences with age at phthalate concentration assessment (β = -0.25; 95% CI = -0.47, -0.03) and MEHP concentration (β = -0.20; 95% CI = -0.37, -0.03).

Conclusions

The limitation of the current article is it only provides information on intelligence level rather than other aspects of cognitive function. Thus, the sequelae of phthalate exposure on attention and executive function are still unclear. Our analysis shows significant difference between sex differences in cognitive function scores associated with age at phthalate concentration assessment. Girls might be more resilient in cognitive function at a younger age or during lower concentrations of phthalates metabolites.

Impact

This is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the pooled estimates of sex differences in objective cognitive functions among children with phthalate exposure. The female might be a protective factor when exposed to toxic plasticizers while the concentration is low. This study captures the possible role of sex in cognitive functioning and plasticizer exposure through a meta-analysis of children's sex, cognitive scores, and plasticizer exposure.

SUBMITTER: Liao YC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10624603 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Sex differences in children's cognitive functions and phthalates exposure: a meta-analysis.

Liao Yu-Chi YC Xu Yi-Jia YJ Chen Jing-Kai JK Boonhat Hathaichon H Su Bei-Yi BY Lin Yi-Chun YC Lin Ro-Ting RT

Pediatric research 20230601 5

<h4>Background</h4>Phthalates exposure might affect children's intelligence development. This study aimed to determine (1) whether sex and age affect cognitive function and (2) whether sex differences in cognitive performance are wider with higher phthalate concentrations.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were collected from PubMed (1998-2022), PROQUEST (1997-2022), and SpringerLink (1995-2022). The study followed the PRISMA process. The included articles were followed by PECO framework. The GRADE applied to ...[more]

PMID: 37264138

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Project description:IntroductionThis study investigated the differences between males and females in autonomic functions and cognitive performance during cold-air exposure and cold-water partial-immersion compared to a room temperature-air environment. Although several studies have investigated the effects of cold-air or cold-water exposures on autonomic function and cognitive performance, biological sex differences are often under-researched.MethodsTwenty-two males and nineteen females participated in the current study. Subjects completed a battery of cognitive tasks based upon those used within the Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA), consisting of five subtasks that assess simple and procedural reaction time, spatial manipulation, attention, and immediate memory. In total, subjects took the battery within a 15-minute period across 30-minute intervals throughout the duration of environmental exposure. Across three separate days, subjects were exposed to three different environmental conditions: room temperature air (23°C), cold air (10°C), and cold water (15°C; in which subjects were immersed up to their necks). Room temperature and cold-air conditions consisted of five sessions (about 2.5 h), and the cold-water condition consisted of three sessions (about 1.5 h). During each experimental condition, physiological data were collected to assess autonomic function, including electrodermal activity (EDA) data and heart rate variability (HRV) derived from electrocardiogram signals.ResultsFemales showed slower reaction time in spatial manipulation tasks, immediate memory, and attention during cold-air exposures compared to room temperature air, whereas the performance of males were similar or better during cold-air exposures compared to room temperature air. Cold-water immersion affected the immediate memory performance of males. Both males and females exhibited smaller EDA amplitudes during cold-air and cold-water conditions compared to room temperature air. For HRV, only male subjects exhibited significantly greater values in low-frequency and very-low-frequency components during cold air exposure compared to the normal condition.DiscussionSex introduces important differences in cognitive performance and autonomic functions during exposure to cold-air and cold-water. Therefore, sex should be considered when assessing the autonomic nervous system in cold environments and when establishing optimal thermal clothing for performance in operational environments. Our findings can assist with determination of operational clothing, temperature in operating environment, and personnel deployment to operational sites, particularly in settings involving both males and females.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Early-life phthalate exposures may adversely affect children's neurodevelopment by disrupting thyroid function, reducing gonadal hormone levels, or altering fatty acid concentrations in the brain. This study aimed to identify periods of heightened susceptibility during gestation, infancy, and childhood to the impact of phthalates on children's cognitive abilities. METHODS:We used data from 253 mother-child pairs in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study (Cincinnati, Ohio), a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort. We quantified urinary concentrations of 11 phthalate metabolites in samples collected twice during gestation and 6 times during study visits when children were aged 1-8 years using a modified method of on-line solid phase extraction coupled with isotope dilution-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We assessed children's intelligence (IQ) at ages 5 and 8 years using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV, respectively. We estimated covariate-adjusted associations between a 1-standard deviation increase in log10-transformed urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations at each visit and children's IQ, adjusting for demographic, perinatal, and child factors; we tested for differences in these associations across visits using multiple informant models. RESULTS:Associations between some phthalate metabolites and IQ varied by visit (phthalate x visit interaction p-values<0.20). The sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP), mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, and monoethyl phthalate at age 3 years, and monobenzyl phthalate at 16 weeks gestation and child ages 3, 5, and 8 years were inversely associated with children's full-scale IQ. For example, each 1-standard deviation increase in ΣDEHP at age 3 was associated with a 1.9-point decrease in full-scale IQ (95% confidence interval: -3.7, -0.2). Mono-n-butyl phthalate and mono-isobutyl phthalate at age 4 years were positively associated with children's full-scale IQ. CONCLUSION:Urinary concentrations of several phthalate metabolites at age 3 years, compared to other time periods, were more strongly associated with decreased cognitive abilities in these children.

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Dataset Information

Sex differences in children's cognitive functions and phthalates exposure: a meta-analysis.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Impact

Publications

Sex differences in children's cognitive functions and phthalates exposure: a meta-analysis.

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