Insulin Resistance in Children and the role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Taking Stock of the Situation

Abstract

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases, of which insulin resistance is a major constituent, among the pediatric population is exponentially increasing worldwide; this is causing a significant health burden, making understanding the basis of this phenomenon an issue of primary importance. During the last decades, we also observed that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is becoming more and more common; this has led researchers to investigate the mechanism of action and define the role of those substances in interfering with human metabolism and hormonal balance, especially at a young age. We reviewed the literature on prospective, epidemiological, and cross-sectional studies that have shown a link between exposure to pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, bisphenol A, phthalates, aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons, or dioxins and insulin resistance; the strength of the associations varies between the substances and human biomonitoring studies have helped in defining the role of these chemicals. The number of prospective studies in children and even in adults is still low and heterogenous, still, evidence that Endocrine disruptors might be involved in the development of insulin resistance and related diseases is accumulating. This review aims to analyze the latest findings linking exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals with insulin resistance in children with the perspective of taking a cue for conducting new studies and identifying the most concerning Endocrine disruptors exposures, in order to guide future risk assessment and policy action aimed to limit the negative consequences of endocrine disrupting chemical exposure.