BPA and Insulin Resistance: Evidence of Effects in Dams and Offspring

摘要

Recent population studies have associated increased exposure to persistent organic pollutants with an elevated risk of insulin resistance and thus a greater likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Among these chemicals is bisphenol A (BPA), a pervasive endocrine-disrupting compound used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Now researchers report evidence that exposure to environmentally relevant doses of BPA during pregnancy may alter insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis in mice, with potential disease-related consequences for both the mother and her male offspring [EHP 118(9):1243–1250; Alonso-Magdalena et al.].