Endocrine Disruptors: A Potential Risk Factor for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has increased dramatically in the past 20 years together with the obesity epidemic. Mirroring the increase in incidence of GDM is increasing use of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are structurally similar to endogenous hormones and interfere with synthesis, secretion, activity, or elimination of natural hormones, resulting in adverse health effects, including diabetes, obesity, developmental disorders, etc. Although the association between bisphenol A (BPA), a well-studied EDC, and type 2 diabetes has been repeatedly investigated in epidemiological and animal studies, there is a dearth of studies examining EDCs and GDM. In fact, the impact of environmental toxins on perinatal health outcomes has largely been overlooked.Recognizing this research gap, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics recently joined leading scientists and clinicians in a call for action to prioritize research in the consequences of exposure to toxic environmental agents on women's health. Evidence is emerging to suggest signaling molecules and EDCs are involved in the control of microRNA (miRNA) expression in trophoblast cells. We reviewed existing scientific evidence of EDCs as a risk factor for GDM as well as the potential role of miRNA in this association.

Expression of Steroid Receptors in Ameloblasts during Amelogenesis in Rat Incisors

“…Among environmental toxicants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been associated over these past 50 years with many existing or emerging diseases including hormone-dependent cancers, diabetes, obesity, and decreased fertility (De Coster and van Larebeke, 2012; Maqbool et al, 2016). This is supported by numerous epidemiological surveys (De Coster and van Larebeke, 2012; Grindler et al, 2015; Ehrlich et al, 2016) and experimental studies (Brieño-Enríquez et al, 2015; Chevalier et al, 2015; Robinson and Miller, 2015; Maqbool et al, 2016; Palanza et al, 2016; Ziv-Gal and Flaws, 2016 for recent reviews). Among the thousands of EDCs, bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most active and ubiquitous due to its wide use by the plastic industry.…”

The Pathophysiology of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

“…Emerging evidence suggests that exosomes containing miRNAs are shed from the placenta during gestation and released into the maternal circulation, which can in turn influence the functioning of other cells, potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of GDM [ 157 , 158 ]. Interestingly, exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including bisphenol A (BPA—found in food packaging materials and consumer products) has been associated with GDM, and it has been suggested that this could be because EDCs induce exosome signaling from the placenta [ 159 ]. Interestingly, EDCs including BPA have also been associated with alterations in methylation, perhaps linking the two mechanisms [ 160 ].…”

In utero exposure to extra vitamin D from food fortification and the risk of subsequent development of gestational diabetes: the D-tect study

“…Finally, we cannot exclude that other environmental and/or societal changes, such as an increase in the exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals [ 45 ], may have influenced our results for instance through epigenetic changes influencing lifelong health and disease by modifying inflammatory molecular pathways and the immune response [ 46 ].…”