First Evidence in Humans That BPA Can Alter Insulin Sensitivity
What else don't we know?
“`html
A newly published clinical trial provides the first direct experimental evidence that bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used industrial chemical found in food and beverage packaging, may impair the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar effectively. Researchers at California Polytechnic State University and Rutgers University conducted a five-day study with 40 healthy young adults, exposing half to BPA at doses considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the other half to a placebo. The results revealed a significant 9 percent decrease in insulin sensitivity among those exposed to BPA, raising concerns about a chemical that contaminates the urine of over 90 percent of the American population.
BPA has been used extensively since the 1960s to manufacture plastic containers and protective coatings inside food cans. While regulatory agencies have maintained that current exposure levels are harmless, decades of animal studies have demonstrated potential harm at low doses, including reproductive problems and metabolic issues. Previous human research hinted at metabolic effects, but this marks the first controlled experiment confirming that BPA exposure may directly affect how the body processes insulin.
Given that diabetes remains a leading cause of death in the United States, researchers emphasize the importance of understanding even modest risk factors. The current EPA safety threshold for BPA, established in 1988, may warrant reconsideration in light of these findings. Scientists recommend that larger trials be conducted to determine how these results apply to broader populations and advocate for regulatory agencies to reevaluate established safety guidelines based on accumulating evidence.
“`
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
About the Author
