Bisphenol A and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Epidemiologic, Functional, and Early Life Factors.
Francesca FarrugiaAlexia AquilinaJosanne VassalloNikolai Paul PacePublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2021)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterised by insulin resistance and eventual pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, resulting in persistent high blood glucose levels. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) are currently under scrutiny as they are implicated in the development of metabolic diseases, including T2DM. BPA is a pervasive EDC, being the main constituent of polycarbonate plastics. It can enter the human body by ingestion, through the skin, and cross from mother to offspring via the placenta or breast milk. BPA is a xenoestrogen that alters various aspects of beta cell metabolism via the modulation of oestrogen receptor signalling. In vivo and in vitro models reveal that varying concentrations of BPA disrupt glucose homeostasis and pancreatic β-cell function by altering gene expression and mitochondrial morphology. BPA also plays a role in the development of insulin resistance and has been linked to long-term adverse metabolic effects following foetal and perinatal exposure. Several epidemiological studies reveal a significant association between BPA and the development of insulin resistance and impaired glucose homeostasis, although conflicting findings driven by multiple confounding factors have been reported. In this review, the main findings of epidemiological and functional studies are summarised and compared, and their respective strengths and limitations are discussed. Further research is essential for understanding the exact mechanism of BPA action in various tissues and the extent of its effects on humans at environmentally relevant doses.
Keyphrases
- blood glucose
- insulin resistance
- glycemic control
- gene expression
- single cell
- type diabetes
- high fat diet
- adipose tissue
- early life
- metabolic syndrome
- oxidative stress
- skeletal muscle
- genome wide
- cell therapy
- dna methylation
- endothelial cells
- stem cells
- weight loss
- emergency department
- cardiovascular disease
- mesenchymal stem cells
- molecular dynamics
- cardiovascular risk factors
- blood pressure
- high fat diet induced
- density functional theory