Title:Endocrine Disruptors and Obesity: An Overview
Volume: 22
Issue: 8
Author(s): Isanna Murro, Giuseppe Lisco, Carmen Di Noia, Luisa Lampignano, Roberta Zupo, Vito Angelo Giagulli, Edoardo Guastamacchia, Vincenzo Triggiani and Giovanni De Pergola*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Bari,
Italy
- Internal
Medicine and Geriatrics Unit - National Institute of Gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana
Grotte, Bari, Italy
Keywords:
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, obesity, adipose tissue, phthalates, bisphenols, persistent organic pollutants.
Abstract: Obesity is a growing pandemic. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are widespread in the environment.
In this perspective, the authors examine the issue related to the exposure to several chemicals
with endocrine-disrupting properties as promoting factors to obesity. Data show that Phthalates,
Bisphenol compounds, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), solvents, and personal care products
can modify metabolic properties in a dose-response and sex-specific manner. Phthalates and bisphenol
compounds increase body mass index, waist circumference, waist to height ratio, and the
sum of skinfold thicknesses in women and not in men. Low-dose exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants
is strongly associated with increased body mass index in men and decreased this parameter in
women. The mechanism through which these compounds act on anthropometric parameters is not
entirely understood. Several studies suggest a possible interference in gonadotropin secretion and the
thyroid axis. These inspire a decrease in both total and free testosterone levels in men and FT3 and
FT4 levels in women, particularly after a pregnancy. The impact of endocrine disruptor chemicals on
adipose tissue inflammation and future cardio-metabolic disorders remains to be elucidated. Therefore,
studies involving both healthy and obese individuals are needed to unambiguously confirm results
from in vitro and animal models.