Phthalates, insulin resistance, and race gaps
In NHANES 2001–2008, several urinary phthalates tracked higher glucose and HOMA-IR, with stronger signals in Mexican-Americans than whites.
Source
Gender and racial/ethnic differences in the associations of urinary phthalate metabolites with markers of diabetes risk: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2008
Study at a glance
- Design
- Cross-sectional — NHANES 2001–2008 phthalate metabolites vs fasting glucose/HOMA-IR by sex and race/ethnicity
- N
- N=3083 · 3,083 nondiabetic participants aged 12–<80
- Population
- Nondiabetic US NHANES participants
- Outcome
- Fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR associated with urinary phthalates
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Phthalates, insulin resistance, and race gaps
These passages occur verbatim in the stored paper text. They support the points listed below; they do not verify every statement in the explanation.
The fourth ΣDEHP quartile was associated with a HOMA-IR increase of 0.67 in men and 0.68 in women.
the fourth quartile of ∑DEHP was associated with a HOMA-IR increase of 0.67 (95% CI 0.43, 0.91) in men and 0.68 (95% CI 0.38, 0.98) in women
What survey and years?
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2008
What they did
Linked 8 urinary phthalate metabolites to fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR in 3,083 nondiabetic NHANES participants aged 12–<80, stratified by gender and race/ethnicity.
What they found
Women had higher creatinine-adjusted phthalates; MnBP, MiBP, MCPP, and ΣDEHP associated with diabetes-risk markers; MiBP’s top quartile raised median FBG 5.82 mg/dL in Mexican-Americans versus a nonsignificant 1.79 in whites.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Cross-sectional one-spot urine cannot prove causation or capture long-term phthalate exposure.
Key terms
- Phthalates
- Plasticizer chemicals measured as urinary metabolites.
- HOMA-IR
- Homeostasis model estimate of insulin resistance from fasting glucose and insulin.
- ΣDEHP
- Sum of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites.
- NHANES
- US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- MEP
- Mono-ethyl phthalate, a diethyl phthalate metabolite.
- PPAR-gamma
- Nuclear receptor involved in lipid and glucose metabolism that phthalates can bind.
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Analytic sample size:
Common questions
Sample n?
3,083.
Survey years?
NHANES 2001–2008.
MiBP FBG in Mexican-Americans?
+5.82 mg/dL in the highest quartile.
Who had higher phthalates?
Women, and often Black participants.
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