Endocrine Abstracts

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen found in plastic material such as bottles, food package, dental material, etc. It is known to have many negative effects on human health and its exposure is associated with endocrine disorders including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some studies found significantly higher serum and urinary levels of BPA in PCOS women, however its association with steroid hormones is still controversial.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare urinary BPA concentrations between PCOS and healthy women and to assess the relationship between BPA and steroid hormones in PCOS group.

Subjects and methods: Study groups consisted of 69 PCOS women and 38 healthy age matched women without endocrine disease. BPA concentrations were measured in urine samples using high-pressure liquid chromatography in all PCOS and control subjects. Serum androgens i.e. testosterone, free-testosterone, androstendione (ASD), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and DHEAS as well as serum estrogens (estradiol, estrone) were measured in PCOS group.

Results: There were no signifcant differences in BPA concentration between PCOS and controls (6.8±1.1 vs 6.7±1.3 μg/lcreatinine). In the PCOS group, no significant correlation has been detected between BPA and testosterone, free-testosterone, DHT, ASD and estradiol (all P>0.05), respectively. However, we found a significant negative correlation between BPA and DHEAS (r=−0.59, P=0.0065) and a slight but significant negative correlation between BPA and serum estrone (r=−0.27, P=0.038).

Conclusion: We conclude that PCOS women do not differ in urinary BPA concentrations from healthy controls. In PCOS group urinary BPA negatively correlates with serum DHEAS and estrone indicating that BPA may interfere with steroidogenesis and may inhibit production of some steroid hormones.