Bisphenol-A and Risk of Obesity Among A Sample of Egyptian Children: Role of Adiponectin as Biomarker of Exposure

Abstract

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is one of the commonest chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastics. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century that affects many low- and middle-income countries, including Egypt. This study was conducted to correlate between BPA exposure and risk of obesity in a sample of Egyptian children and to find out whether adiponectin (ADP) can be utilized as an exposure biomarker or not. This study was conducted on 80 children. They were divided into two groups according to their body mass index (BMI): Study group included 40 obese children (BMI ≥ 95th percentile), and control group included 40 normal-weight children (BMI 5th - 85thpercentile). Levels of urinary BPA and serum ADP were estimated using HPLC and ELISA respectively. The study revealed that statistically significant increase in mean adjusted urinary BPA levels (P < 0.001) and serum ADP levels (P < 0.001) between study and control groups. Within the study group, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between urinary BPA levels and BMI (r = 0.956), meanwhile, statistically significant negative correlations were found between urinary BPA levels and serum ADP levels, as well, serum ADP levels and BMI (r= - 0.947, - 0.984 respectively). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that odds ratio for serum ADP level was 0.146 with 95% CI: 0.003-0.66, P=0.012. Significant increased risk for obesity among BPA exposed children was found and ADP can be used as a predictor biological marker for BPA-induced obesity.