Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: There is a growing evidence suggesting an impact of endocrine distrupting chemicals, including bisphenol A (BPA) on human reproduction. Insulin growth factors (IGF) play signifcant role inhuman reproduction. However the relationship between BPA and IGF system is unknown. Aim of the pilot study was to assessthe relationship between urinary BPA (U-BPA) and insulin growth factors (IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP 3) as well as metabolic parametersin PCOS women.

Subjects and methods: The study included 76 Caucasian womenof mean age 28.8 ± 5.7 yearsdiagnosed with PCOS. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for biochemical parameters, IGF-1, IGF-2 and IGFBP3. U-BPA was measured in the morning urine sample using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). BPA level of 2.14 mg/g creatinine were usedas the cut-off for high or low levels of this xenoestrogen and served for selection of patients into two groups.

Results: PCOS women with high U-BPA had significantly higher serum insulin (P = 0.0291) and HOMA IR (P = 0.0371) as compared to those with low U-BPA. Both groups did not differ in parameters of lipid metabolism. There were no significant differences in the serum IGF-1 (P = 0.36) and serum IGF-2 (P = 0.3) between both groups. Women withlow U-BPAdemonstrated higher serum IGFBP3 (P = 0.04). In all group of PCOS women U-BPA negatively correlated with IGF-2 (r = − 0.25, P = 0.04) and IGFBP3 (r = − 0.54, P = 0.0032).IGF-1 tended to be lowerin women with high BPA, however correlation with U-BPA was borderline (r = − 0.2, P = 0.068).

Conclusion: U-BPA is in negative relationship with IGF-2, IGFBP-3 and borderline with IGF-1 in PCOS women. This indicates a possible suppressive effect of BPA on ovarian function in polycystic ovary syndrome through suppression of IGF system.