Bernice Wiberg1, P Monica Lind2, Lars Lind3. 1. Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Geriatrics, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: bernice.wiberg@akademiska.se. 2. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 3. Department of Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Background exposure to environmental contaminants has recently emerged as a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease in general and to atheroclerosis in particular. This cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate if serum concentrations of the phthalate metabolite monobenzylphthalate (MBzP) are related to atheroclerosis in the carotid arteries. METHODS: In the population-based Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study (1003 subjects all aged 70) the prevalence of overt plaques and echogenicity (gray-scale median, GSM) of carotid artery plaques were recorded by ultrasound in both of the carotid arteries. The intima-media thickness (IMT) and echogenicity (IM-GSM) of the intima-media complex were also measured. The phthalate metabolite MBzP was analyzed in serum by a liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The circulating level of the phthalate MBzP was related to intima-media thickness (IMT) when adjusting for gender, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, serum triglycerides, blood glucose and smoking (p=0.034). High levels of MBzP were also strongly associated with an echogenic IM-GSM and plaque GSM (p=0.0001 for both outcomes after adjustment) but not to plaque prevalence (p=0.42). CONCLUSION: The phthalate metabolite MBzP was strongly related to the echogenicity of intima-media and plaques and also to IMT, independently of traditional CV risk factors. This suggests a role for the phthalate MBzP in the development of atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Background exposure to environmental contaminants has recently emerged as a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease in general and to atheroclerosis in particular. This cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate if serum concentrations of the phthalate metabolite monobenzylphthalate (MBzP) are related to atheroclerosis in the carotid arteries. METHODS: In the population-based Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study (1003 subjects all aged 70) the prevalence of overt plaques and echogenicity (gray-scale median, GSM) of carotid artery plaques were recorded by ultrasound in both of the carotid arteries. The intima-media thickness (IMT) and echogenicity (IM-GSM) of the intima-media complex were also measured. The phthalate metabolite MBzP was analyzed in serum by a liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The circulating level of the phthalateMBzP was related to intima-media thickness (IMT) when adjusting for gender, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, serum triglycerides, blood glucose and smoking (p=0.034). High levels of MBzP were also strongly associated with an echogenic IM-GSM and plaque GSM (p=0.0001 for both outcomes after adjustment) but not to plaque prevalence (p=0.42). CONCLUSION: The phthalate metabolite MBzP was strongly related to the echogenicity of intima-media and plaques and also to IMT, independently of traditional CV risk factors. This suggests a role for the phthalateMBzP in the development of atherosclerosis.
Authors: Erika F Werner; Joseph M Braun; Kimberly Yolton; Jane C Khoury; Bruce P Lanphear Journal: Environ Health Date: 2015-09-17 Impact factor: 5.984