Pilot study on the effect of orally administered bisphenol A on glucose and insulin response in nonobese adults

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of varying doses of orally administered BPA on indices of glucose metabolism. Methods: Eleven college students (21.0 6 0.8 years; 24.2 6 3.9 kg/m2) were randomized in a double-blinded, crossover fashion separated by .1 week to placebo (PL), deuterated BPA at 4 mg/kg body weight (BPA-4), and deuterated BPA at 50 mg/kg body weight (BPA-50). Total BPA, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were assessed at baseline, minutes 15, 30, 45, 60, and every 30 minutes for 2 hours in response to a glucose tolerance test. Results: There was a significant condition 3 time interaction for total BPA (P, 0.001) such that BPA increased more rapidly in BPA-50 than BPA-4 and PL (P = 0.003) and increased more rapidly in BPA-4 than PL (P, 0.001). There were no significant condition 3 time interactions on glucose, insulin, and C-peptide. Significant condition main effects were observed for glucose such that BPA-50 was significantly lower than PL (P = 0.036) and nearly lower for BPA-4 vs PL (P = 0.056). Significant condition main effects were observed such that insulin in BPA-50 was lower than BPA-4 (P = 0.021), and C-peptide in BPA-50 was lower than BPA-4 (t18 = 3.95; Tukey-adjusted P = 0.003). Glucose, insulin, and C-peptide areas under the curve for the 3-hour profile were significantly lower in BPA-50 vs PL (P, 0.05). Conclusion: Orally administered BPA protocol appeared feasible and has immediate effects on glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations.