Journal article
Phthalate Exposures, DNA Methylation and Adiposity in Mexican Children Through Adolescence
Frontiers in public health, v 7, pp 162-162
19 Jun 2019
PMID: 31275917
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Phthalates are a class of endocrine disrupting chemicals with near ubiquitous exposure to populations around the world. Phthalates have been associated with children's adiposity in previous studies, though discrepancies exist across studies that may be due to timing of exposure or outcome assessment and population differences (i.e., genetics, other confounders). DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification involved in gene regulation, may mediate the effects of early life phthalate exposures on health outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the mediating effect of DNA methylation at growth-related genes on the association between phthalate exposure and repeat measures of adiposity (BMI-for-age z-score, waist circumference, and skinfolds thickness) in Mexican children. Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were quantified in mothers at each of the three trimesters of pregnancy and in children at the first peri-adolescent study visit. Blood leukocyte DNA methylation at
H19
and
HSD11B2
was quantified during the first peri-adolescent visit, and adiposity was measured at the first visit and again ~3 years later among participants (
n
= 109 boys, 114 girls) from the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) project. Associations between phthalates or DNA methylation and repeat outcome measures were assessed separately in boys and girls using generalized estimating equation models including covariates (urinary specific gravity, maternal education, and child's age). Sobel tests were used to assess DNA methylation as a mediator in models adjusting for the same covariates. Associations between phthalates and adiposity varied by phthalate and timing of exposure. Early gestation MBP, MIBP, and MBzP were associated with adiposity among girls. For example, among girls first trimester maternal urine concentrations of MIBP were associated with increases in skinfold thickness, BMI-for-age, and waist circumference (
p
< 0.01). Second trimester and adolescent MBzP were associated with adiposity among boys in opposite directions. In girls,
H19
methylation was positively associated with skinfold thickness. No significant mediation of phthalate exposure on adiposity by DNA methylation of
H19
or
HSD11B2
was observed (Sobel
p
> 0.05). However, the mediation analysis was underpowered to detect small to medium effect sizes, and the role of DNA methylation as a mediator between phthalates and outcomes merits further study.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Phthalate Exposures, DNA Methylation and Adiposity in Mexican Children Through Adolescence
- Creators
- Alison Bowman - University of MichiganKaren E. Peterson - University of MichiganDana C. Dolinoy - , , , , , , , , , , , ,John D. Meeker - University of MichiganBrisa N. Sánchez - Drexel UniversityAdriana Mercado-Garcia - National Institute of Public HealthMartha M. Téllez-Rojo - National Institute of Public HealthJaclyn M. Goodrich - University of Michigan
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in public health, v 7, pp 162-162
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Grant note
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000472674600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85068745601
- Other Identifier
- 991020099677204721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health