American researchers have found that bisphenol A – a chemical used in the manufacture of various consumer products, including polycarbonate food and drink containers and metal food and beverage can linings – inhibits the release of a hormone that protects humans from metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is characterised by abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance, high blood pressure and elevated blood glucose and triglyceride levels and is associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In their study, the scientists exposed fat tissue, which had been surgically removed from people, to various levels of BPA, then observed the effects on the release of a substance called adiponectin from the fat tissue. Adiponectin is a hormone which protects people from developing metabolic syndrome.

They found that BPA inhibited adiponectin release, with the largest effect being found at those BPA levels commonly observed in human serum. The mechanism by which this effect occurs is yet to be determined.

Reference

Hugo, E., Brandenbourg, T., Woo, J., Loftus, J., Alexander, J. and Ben-Jonathan, N.   2008   Bisphenol A at Environmentally Relevant Doses Inhibits Adiponectin Release from Human Tissue Explants and Adipocytes   EHP Online. Doi : 10.1289/ehp.11537. Available at : http://dx.doi.org/