Background: Bisphenol-A (BPA), an industrial chemical found in plastic bottles and cans has been associated with obesity and obesity-related metabolic disturbances. However, no prior studies have examined the potential effects of BPA on the Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn), a constellation of metabolic disturbances including dysglycemia, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia.
Objectives: To investigate the potential association between urinary BPA and the MetSyn, BPA and MetSyn components and the potential mediation between BPA and metabolic disturbances by BMI.
Methods: 2064 adults from the 2005-2010 NHANES population were evaluated using logistic and linear regression. The mediation strategy primarily followed the Baron and Kenny (1986) criteria.
Results and Conclusion: Statistically significant positive association was observed between the highest tertile of urinary BPA and central obesity (OR=1.56; 95% CI: 1.06-2.28); however, BPA tertiles were not associated with the MetSyn. BMI did not appear to mediate putative associations between urinary BPA and metabolic abnormalities.