This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Phthalates associated with decreased testosterone in both sexes, all ages
Multiple phthalates were associated with reduced testosterone levels in men and women of varying ages, according to research published in The Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Researchers at the University of Michigan recommend more emphasis be placed on defining these relationships and the impact of chemicals found in plastics and personal care products.
John D. Meeker, ScD, CIH, of the department of environmental health sciences, and Kelly K. Ferguson, a research fellow, conducted a cross-sectional study of the general US population using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2012.
John D. Meeker
The researchers investigated the relationships between urinary concentrations of 13 phthalate metabolites and serum total testosterone levels in men, women and children, stratified by sex and age (6–12, 12–20, 20–40, 40–60 and 60–80 years). Isotope dilution-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure total testosterone; adjustments were made for confounders.
Kelly K. Ferguson
Testosterone levels were significantly reduced in both sexes, with inverse relationships the strongest and most consistent among women aged 40 to 60 years. In boys aged 6 to 12 years, an interquartile range increase in metabolites of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate was associated with a 29% (95% CI, 6–47) testosterone decrease. In adult men, inverse associations between phthalates (metabolites of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate) and testosterone were only significant or suggestive among men aged 40 to 60 years.
“Because testosterone plays an important role in all life stages for both sexes, future efforts should focus on better defining and possibly intervening to reduce the impacts of these relationships,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosures: The study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the NIH.