%0 Journal Article
%T Serum concentrations of phthalate metabolites are related to abdominal fat distribution two years later in elderly women
%A P Monica Lind
%A Vendela Roos
%A Monika R£¿nn
%A Lars Johansson
%A H£¿kan Ahlstr£¿m
%A Joel Kullberg
%A Lars Lind
%J Environmental Health
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1476-069x-11-21
%X 1,016 subjects aged 70 years were investigated in the PIVUS study. Four phthalate metabolites were detected in the serum of almost all subjects (> 96%) by an API 4000 liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometer. Abdominal MRI was performed in a representative subsample of 287 subjects (28%), and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-scan was obtained in 890 (88%) of the subjects two year following the phthalate measurements.In women, circulating concentrations of mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) were positively related to waist circumference, total fat mass and trunk fat mass by DXA, as well as to subcutaneous adipose tissue by MRI following adjustment for serum cholesterol and triglycerides, education, smoking and exercise habits (all p < 0.008). Mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) concentrations were related to trunk fat mass and the trunk/leg-ratio by DXA, but less powerful than MiBP. However, no such statistically significant relationships were seen in men.The present evaluation shows that especially the phthalate metabolite MiBP was related to increased fat amount in the subcutaneous abdominal region in women measured by DXA and MRI two years later.Phthalates (phthalate diesters) are commonly used as plasticisers in e.g. polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastics, and are therefore found in numerous household products such as food packaging, furniture, and toys; and in medical devices such as tubing and intravenous bags. In addition, phthalates are used in personal care products and pharmaceuticals. Since phthalates are additives and as such not covalently bound to the plastic, they can easily leach and transfer to e.g. air and food. Humans are exposed to phthalates through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure, and exposure is ubiquitous due to the abundance of plastic in our society and in our homes. Phthalates are rapidly degraded into the respective phthalate monoesters in phase I reactions catalysed by lipases and esterases. The respective monoesters are eliminated
%K Phthalates
%K Obesity
%K Mono-isobutyl phthalate
%K DXA
%K Abdominal MRI
%K PIVUS
%K Fat distribution
%K PPAR agonist
%U http://www.ehjournal.net/content/11/1/21