Environmental exposure to triclosan and polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

ObjectivesPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy of women at reproductive age. Although the aetiology of PCOS remains unclear, potential effects of environmental endocrine-disrupting compounds on the development of PCOS have drawn increasing attention. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between triclosan (TCS) and PCOS, and explore possible mechanisms on how TCS may contribute to the development of clinical manifestations of PCOS.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThis study was conducted in one tertiary-level hospital located in Zhejiang, China.ParticipantsA total of 674 infertile women at 18–45 years of age were recruited in 2014–2015. Participants with (n=84) and without (n=212) PCOS with urinary TCS concentration available were included in the analyses.MethodsUrinary TCS concentration was measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. Logistic regression model was used to examine the association between TCS and PCOS. Fractional polynomial regression models were built to fit the potential non-linear relationship between TCS concentrations and luteinising hormone (LH) and LH/follicle stimulate hormone (FSH).ResultsThe PCOS group had significantly higher level of TCS concentration than the non-PCOS group (the median of TCS (IQR), μg/g creatinine: 1.49 (0.68–3.80) vs 1.06 (0.52–3.02), p=0.0407). Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of TCS concentration was associated with an increased odd of PCOS (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.99). After adjusting for potential confounders, the significant association remained (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.79). Positive relationships were found between TCS levels and LH and LH/FSH ratio in non-PCOS participants.ConclusionsTCS exposure at a relatively low level is associated with PCOS in Chinese women. Further epidemiological studies are needed to confirm our finding, which may have important public health implications.

Comprehensive insight into triclosan—from widespread occurrence to health outcomes

“…The prevalence of other endocrine-related disorders, specific to the female population: osteoporosis (tightly related to thyroid hormones and estrogen activity) and polycystic ovary syndrome (associated with the impaired glucose metabolism and women infertility) were also found to be increased in women with elevated TCS urinary levels (Cai et al 2019 ; Ye et al 2018 ).…”

The Potential Relationship Between Environmental Endocrine Disruptor Exposure and the Development of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis

“…npEDCs have a low lipid solubility resulting in a relatively short half-life in humans and animals whereas POPs are highly lipophilic chemicals that are not readily biodegradable (Cho et al, 2020). Development of a variety of reproductive diseases has been found to be associated with both npEDCs (Kandaraki et al, 2011;Ye et al, 2018;Bariani et al, 2020;Peinado et al, 2021) and POPs (Heilier et al, 2004;Bruner-Tran and Osteen, 2010;Trabert et al, 2015;Al Jishi and Sergi, 2017). Due to their lipophilic nature, a number of EDCs, including dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are ubiquitously present in the environment despite regulatory steps to curtail production and manufacture.…”

Nonpersistent endocrine disrupting chemicals and reproductive health of women

“…Compared to the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of TCS concentration was associated with an increased odds of PCOS (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.05-3.79) [72]. In contrast, a casecontrol study exploring the association between the urinary concentration of personal care products and PCOS found no significant differences in TCS detection rate or the total concentration of analytes [73].…”