Dataset Information

Pregnancy intention and phthalate metabolites among pregnant women in The Infant Development and Environment Study cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Preconception life style and health play a pivotal role in positively impacting the health of a pregnancy, and this includes the reduction of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates. We have previously demonstrated that women planning a pregnancy with assisted reproductive technology (ART) have lower phthalate metabolite concentrations than their non-ART-using counterparts.

Objective

To determine whether women who intended to become pregnant had lower phthalate metabolite concentrations than those who had an unintended pregnancy, or whether change in phthalate exposure across pregnancy differed between these two groups.

Methods

A total of 721 women enrolled in The Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES), a multicentre US prospective pregnancy cohort; 513 (71%) indicated their pregnancy was planned. Urine samples from first- and third-trimester visits were analysed for 10 specific-gravity-adjusted, natural-log-transformed phthalate metabolites. Simple and multivariable linear regression, adjusting for centre, race, age, income, marital status, and parity, were employed to determine whether phthalate metabolite concentrations differed by pregnancy intention.

Results

In bivariate analyses, the geometric mean concentrations of all first-trimester and most third-trimester phthalates were higher in women with unplanned pregnancies. However, after covariate adjustment, only first-trimester monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP) remained associated with pregnancy intention, and the association changed direction such that unplanned pregnancies had lower MiBP concentrations (ß -0.18, 95% CI -0.35, -0.02).

Conclusions

We did not find evidence of a difference in phthalate exposure between pregnancy planners and non-planners.

SUBMITTER: Lyden GR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7541656 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundPrenatal phthalate exposure has been linked to reductions in fetal growth in animal and laboratory studies, but epidemiologic evidence is equivocal.ObjectiveExamine the association between prenatal phthalate metabolite mixtures and fetal growth and evaluate whether that association is modified by fetal sex or omega-3 intake during pregnancy.MethodsAnalyses included 604 singleton pregnancies from TIDES, a prospective pregnancy cohort with spot urine samples and questionnaires collected in each trimester. Pregnancy-averaged phthalate exposure estimates were calculated as the geometric means of specific-gravity corrected phthalate metabolites. Fetal growth outcomes included birthweight and length, and ultrasound-derived size and velocity of estimated fetal weight, femur length, abdominal and head circumferences in the second and third trimesters. We used a novel application of quantile g-computation to estimate the joint association between pregnancy-averaged phthalate exposure and fetal growth, and to examine effect modification of that association by infant sex or omega-3 intake during pregnancy.ResultsThere were few statistically significant differences in birth size and fetal growth by exposure. A one-quartile increase in the phthalate mixture was modestly associated with reduced birthweight(β [95% confidence interval)]: -54.6 [-128.9, 19.7] grams; p = 0.15) and length (-0.2 [-0.6, 0.2] centimeters; p = 0.40). A one-quartile increase in the phthalate mixture was associated with reduced birth length in males (-0.5 [-1.0, 0.0] centimeters) but not for females (0.1 [-0.2, 0.3] centimeters); interaction p = 0.05. The phthalate metabolite mixture was inversely associated with ultrasound-derived fetal growth among those with adequate omega-3 intake. For example, a one-quartile increase in the phthalate mixture was associated with reduced abdominal circumference in the third trimesters in those with adequate omega-3 intake (-3.3 [-6.8, 0.1] millimeters) but not those with inadequate omega-3 intake (1.8 [-0.8, 4.5] millimeters); interaction p = 0.01.ConclusionPrenatal phthalate exposure was not significantly associated with fetal growth outcomes, with some exceptions for certain subgroups.

Project description:Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental exposures that may be implicated in inflammatory processes, as demonstrated by previous in vivo and in vitro studies. Few human studies have substantiated these observations. This study sought to examine whether maternal phthalate exposures impact inflammatory processes, as measured by circulating inflammatory biomarkers, in the PROTECT cohort in northern Puerto Rico. Inflammatory biomarkers included matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, and 9 (MMPs), C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM), and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM). Biomarkers were measured in maternal serum samples collected during pregnancy. 19 phthalate metabolites were assessed in urinary samples collected at three study visits across pregnancy. Phthalates with <50 % of measurements above the limit of detection were excluded from analysis. We utilized linear mixed effect models to estimate associations between interquartile range increases in phthalate metabolite concentrations and percent changes in inflammatory biomarkers. Our results revealed significant associations between mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) and higher MMP1 by 7.86 % (95 % CI: 0.49, 15.76) and between mono oxononyl phthalate (MONP) and higher MMP2 by 8.30 % (95 % CI: 2.22, 14.75). We observed negative or null associations between phthalate metabolites and MMP2, MMP9, ICAM, VCAM, and CRP. Many results were significantly modified by fetal sex, particularly those between di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites and MMP1 (p-interaction: MEHHP = 0.01, MEOHP = 0.04, MECPP = 0.01) and MMP2 (p-interaction: MEHHP = 0.03, MEOHP = 0.01, MECPP = 0.01), for which associations were positive among only women carrying female fetuses. MMPs have been previously associated with preeclampsia and hypertensive pregnancy disorders as mediators of artery remodeling. Hence, our findings suggest a potential role for phthalates in mediating the maternal inflammatory response, as well as significant sexual dimorphism in these relationships, which has implications for several adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Project description:BackgroundPhthalates have been reported to alter circulating lipid concentrations in animals, and investigation of these associations in humans will provide greater understanding of potential mechanisms for health outcomes.ObjectiveTo explore associations between phthalate metabolite biomarkers and lipidomic profiles among pregnant women (n = 99) in the Puerto Rico PROTECT cohort.MethodsWe measured 19 urinary phthalate metabolites during 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Lipidomic profiles were identified from plasma samples by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics. Relationships between phthalate metabolites and lipid profiles were estimated using compound-by-compound comparisons in multiple linear regression and dimension reduction techniques. We derived sums for each lipid class and sub-class (saturated, mono-unsaturated, polyunsaturated) which were then regressed on phthalate metabolites. Associations were adjusted for false discovery.ResultsAfter controlling for multiple comparisons, 33 phthalate-lipid associations were identified (False discovery rate adjusted p value < 0.05), and diacylglycerol 40:7 and plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholine 35:1 were the most strongly associated with multiple phthalate metabolites. Metabolites of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalates, and diisobutyl phthalate were associated with increased ceramides, lysophosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, and triacylglycerols, particularly those containing saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acid chains.SignificanceCharacterization of associations between lipidomic markers and phthalate metabolites during pregnancy will yield mechanistic insight for maternal and child health outcomes.ImpactThis study leverages emerging technology to evaluate lipidome-wide signatures of phthalate exposure during pregnancy. The greatest lipid signatures of phthalate exposure were observed for diacylglycerol 40:7 and plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholine 35:1. Polymerized glycerides are important for energy production and regulated through hormone signaling, while plasmenyl-phosphatidylcholines have been implicated in membrane dynamics and important for cell-to-cell signaling. Characterization of these mechanisms are relevant for informing the etiology of maternal and children's health outcomes.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Phthalates and phenols are suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals that may adversely impact fetal outcomes following in utero exposure. Understanding predictors of exposure to phthalates and phenols during the prenatal period is important. METHODS:We measured urinary concentrations of 15 phthalate metabolites and 11 phenols in 446 pregnant women enrolled in the Healthy Start pre-birth cohort. Creatinine-adjusted geometric means (GM) for each urinary biomarker were compared across categories of potential sociodemographic and dietary predictors. To assess the independent relationship between each significant food group predictor and biomarker we used multivariable models, adjusted for sociodemographic predictors. RESULTS:The phthalate metabolites with the highest concentrations were monoethyl phthalate (GM: 41.1µg/g creatinine) and monocarboxyisooctyl phthalate (GM: 20.5µg/g creatinine). Benzophenone-3 (GM: 124.6µg/g creatinine) and methyl paraben (GM: 119.9µg/g creatinine) were the phenols with the highest concentrations. Concentrations of the metabolites of di-n-butyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were significantly higher in younger, unmarried or unemployed mothers, those who were overweight or obese, those with lower educational attainment, or those of minority race/ethnicity (p-values < 0.05). Metabolites of di-n-butyl phthalate concentrations were 18% lower in those who consumed milk ? 7 times per week (95% CI: 30-4%). Benzophenone-3 and triclosan concentrations were significantly higher in older, married, or employed mothers, those with normal body mass index, higher educational attainment, higher household income, or who were non-Hispanic white (p-values < 0.05). Benzophenone-3 concentrations were 62% higher in those who consumed seafood ? 5 times per month (95% CI: 16-127%). CONCLUSIONS:We observed differences in urinary concentrations of phthalates and phenol biomarkers by sociodemographic predictors in an ethnically diverse cohort of pregnant women. These results and future analyses from this prospective cohort will help inform targeted interventions to reduce exposure to these potential endocrine disrupting chemicals during pregnancy.

Project description:Background/objectivesPregnant women are ubiquitously exposed to phthalates from food packaging materials and personal care products. Phthalates alter estrogen and testosterone concentrations in experimental models, but their ability to impact these hormones in human pregnancy is not well characterized.MethodsWe recruited women ages 18-40 into the Illinois Kids Development Study (I-KIDS) in early pregnancy. Participants provided up to 5 first-morning urine samples across pregnancy (8-40 weeks gestation) that we pooled for quantification of 19 phthalate or phthalate alternative metabolites. Either individual (ng/mL) or molar sums (nmol/mL) of metabolites were used as exposure biomarkers. We summed urinary concentrations (ng/mL) of eight major estrogen (SumEstrogens) and two major testosterone (SumTestosterones) metabolites measured at median 13, 28, and 34 weeks gestation. We also estimated the ratio of estrogens-to-androgens. Linear mixed-effects models assessed relationships of phthalates/alternatives as continuous measures or as concentration quartiles with SumEstrogens, SumTestosterones, and the Estrogen/Androgen ratio in 434 women. In our models, we controlled for age, race, education, parity, smoking in the first trimester, pre-pregnancy body mass index, diet quality, conception season, fetal sex, and gestational age at hormone assessment. We also explored whether gestational age at hormone assessment or fetal sex modified these associations. All biomarkers and outcomes were specific gravity-adjusted, and continuous exposures and outcomes were also natural log-transformed.ResultsMost participants were non-Hispanic white (80.9%), college educated (82.2%), and had urinary phthalate/alternative metabolite concentrations similar to those of reproductive-aged U.S. women. Overall, select phthalate metabolites were positively associated with SumEstrogens and SumTestosterones, but negatively associated with the Estrogen/Androgen ratio. For example, SumEstrogens was 5.1% (95%CI: 1.8, 8.5) higher with every 2-fold increase in sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites, while SumTestosterones was 7.9% (95%CI: 1.0, 15.3) higher and Estrogen/Androgen ratio was -7.7% (95%CI: -13.6, -1.4) lower with every 2-fold increase in monoethyl phthalate. However, phthalate alternatives were only positively associated with SumEstrogens, which was 2.4% (95%CI: 0.4, 4.5) and 3.2% (95%CI: 0.7, 5.8) higher with every 2-fold increase in sum of di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate metabolites and sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate metabolites, respectively. Gestational age- and fetal sex-specific associations were only consistently observed for associations of phthalates/alternatives with SumEstrogens, where associations were strongest in mid-to-late pregnancy in women carrying females.ConclusionPhthalates/alternatives may impact gestational hormones, with potential for gestational age- and fetal sex-specific associations. Whether maternal urinary estrogens and testosterones mediate associations of phthalates/alternatives with pregnancy and fetal outcomes merits further investigation.