Bisphenol A Exposure in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is believed to involve genetic and environmental components. The present study focused on the plasticizer, Bisphenol-A (BPA). The major pathway for BPA metabolism and excretion is via glucuronidation. OBJECTIVES To determine whether there was a relationship between BPA exposure and ASD. METHODS Urine specimens were collected from 46 children with ASD and 52 controls. Free and total BPA concentrations were determined by mass spectrometry. The fraction glucuronidated was calculated from the difference. A metabolomics study was done to investigate metabolite distribution in the urine. RESULTS (i) Most of the BPA excreted in the urine was as the glucuronide. (ii) About 20% of the ASD children had BPA levels beyond the 90th percentile (> 50 ng/ml) of the frequency distribution for the total sample of 98 children. (iii) Mann-Whitney U tests and multiple regression analyses found significant differences (p <0 .05) between the groups in total and % bound BPA. (iv) The metabolomics analyses showed the number of absolute partial correlations ≥ |0.30| between metabolite concentrations and total BPA was ~3 times greater with the ASD group than the controls ( p <0 .001), and the number of absolute partial correlations ≥ |0.30| for % bound BPA was ~15 times higher with ASD ( p <0 .001). CONCLUSION The results suggest there is an association between BPA and ASD.

Beneficial action of resveratrol: How and why?

“…These results supports that BPA and other environmental factors may play a role in visceral obesity-related low grade chronic inflammation (39). Similar association between BSA and autism has also been described (40).…”

Neuroendocrine disruption in animal models due to exposure to bisphenol A analogues

“…There is every indication that this number has risen dramatically in the past few years and will increase even further in coming decades. However, it is also becoming apparent that exposure to BPA, especially during development, can result in neurobehavioral and other disorders [2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14]. Examples of neurobehavioral disorders that have been associated with BPA in rodent and other animal models include cognitive deficits, increased anxiety, socio-sexual deficiencies, compromised maternal and/or paternal care, and decreased voluntary physical activity [15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23].…”

“…Examples of neurobehavioral disorders that have been associated with BPA in rodent and other animal models include cognitive deficits, increased anxiety, socio-sexual deficiencies, compromised maternal and/or paternal care, and decreased voluntary physical activity [15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23]. Evidence also links exposure to this chemical to neurological disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 24; 25; 26; 27]. Some of these neurological effects are likely due to BPA acting as a weak estrogen and binding to estrogen receptors 1 and 2 (ESR1 and 2) within various brain regions [12; 13; 28; 29; 30].…”

Correlation between antibodies to bisphenol A, its target enzyme protein disulfide isomerase and antibodies to neuron‐specific antigens

“…Anti‐MBP and anti‐MOG were found in 78.5% of autistic children and were insignificant in normal subjects (Mostafa & Al‐Ayadhi, ). A recent publication found that metabolomics analysis showed the correlation between metabolite concentrations and total BPA was three times greater with subjects diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder than the controls, and the number of absolute partial correlations for percentage bound BPA was 15 times higher with autism spectrum disorder (Stein et al ., ). Anti‐MBP were also found significantly higher in 100 mothers of children with autistic disorder compared to 100 age‐matched unaffected children, leading to the possibility that there may be placental transfer of maternal antibodies in autism (Singer et al ., ).…”