Open AccessA Systematic Review of Bisphenol A from Dietary and Non-Dietary Sources during Pregnancy and Its Possible Connection with Fetal Growth Restriction: Investigating Its Potential Effects and the Window of Fetal Vulnerability
Author(s) -
Nikolaos Vrachnis,
Νικόλαος Λουκάς,
Dionysios Vrachnis,
Nikolaos Antonakopoulos,
Dimitrios Zygouris,
Aggeliki Kοlialexi,
Vasilios Pergaliotis,
Christos Iavazzo,
George Mastorakos,
Zoe Iliodromiti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nutrients
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.418
H-Index - 115
ISSN - 2072-6643
DOI - 10.3390/nu13072426
Subject(s) - fetus , pregnancy , fetal growth , physiology , medicine , obstetrics , amniotic fluid , bisphenol a , fetal programming , intrauterine growth restriction , endocrine system , endocrinology , biology , chemistry , hormone , genetics , organic chemistry , epoxy
Bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), is increasingly hypothesized to be a factor contributing to changes in fetal growth velocity. BPA exposure may be environmental, occupational, and/or dietary, with canned foods and plastic bottles contributing significantly. Our systematic review aims to evaluate the current literature and to investigate the role of BPA in abnormal fetal growth patterns. A search was conducted in the PubMed and Cochrane databases. A total of 25 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review. Eleven of them failed to show a clear relationship between BPA and abnormal fetal growth. The majority of the remaining studies (9/14) found an inverse association of BPA with indicators of fetal growth, whereas three studies suggested increased fetal growth, and two studies produced contradictory findings. Of note, both of the studies that collected a sample (amniotic fluid) directly reflecting BPA concentration in the fetus during the first half of pregnancy revealed an inverse association with birth weight. In conclusion, there is mounting evidence that combined exposure to BPA from dietary and non-dietary sources during pregnancy may contribute to abnormal fetal growth; a tendency towards fetal growth restriction was shown, especially when exposure occurs during the first half.