Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women

Few studies have explored the link between paraben exposure and thyroid hormone homeostasis in pregnant women across trimesters. The present study involved 97 pregnant women from southern Taiwan (2013–2014), and involved measuring urinary methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl parabens, as well as serum t...

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Main Authors: Po-Chin Huang, Hsi Chen, Pao-Lin Kuo, Hsin-Chang Chen, Wan-Ting Chang, Jung-Wei Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500154X
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author Po-Chin Huang
Hsi Chen
Pao-Lin Kuo
Hsin-Chang Chen
Wan-Ting Chang
Jung-Wei Chang
author_facet Po-Chin Huang
Hsi Chen
Pao-Lin Kuo
Hsin-Chang Chen
Wan-Ting Chang
Jung-Wei Chang
author_sort Po-Chin Huang
collection DOAJ
description Few studies have explored the link between paraben exposure and thyroid hormone homeostasis in pregnant women across trimesters. The present study involved 97 pregnant women from southern Taiwan (2013–2014), and involved measuring urinary methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl parabens, as well as serum thyroid hormones and related indices, such as Structure Parameter Inference Approach—Glandular Disturbance [SPINA-GD], and SPINA Global Turnover [SPINA-GT]). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were applied to examine the effect of longitudinal paraben exposure on thyroid hormone homeostasis. We found that propylparaben and butylparaben levels were associated with increased FT4 levels at the second visit (β = 0.07, p = 0.019; β = 0.08, p = 0.002), respectively. The GEE analysis further supported these associations, indicating the positive association between propylparaben levels and both T3 and FT4 levels over time (β = 0.05, p = 0.019 and β = 0.05, p = 0.026, respectively). Moreover, butylparaben levels were positively associated with FT4 (β = 0.05, p = 0.004) and inversely associated with the T4/FT4 ratio and SPINA-GD values (β = −0.04, p = 0.039 and β = −1.63, p = 0.004, respectively). In the GEE and BKMR analyses, a positive association was observed between PrP or paraben mixtures and T3 and FT4 levels, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that paraben and paraben mixtures have the potential to disrupt thyroid homeostasis by exerting a diverse hormonal effect. Further research is required to substantiate these conclusions in larger sample size populations.
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spelling doaj-art-85356421b2f441aaa9fa2d4f130ea4b12025-08-20T02:04:00ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-02-0129111781810.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117818Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant womenPo-Chin Huang0Hsi Chen1Pao-Lin Kuo2Hsin-Chang Chen3Wan-Ting Chang4Jung-Wei Chang5National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, TaiwanInstitute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Chemistry, Tunghai University, Taichung, TaiwanNational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, TaiwanInstitute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Correspondence to: Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 155 Li-Nong Street, Section 2, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan.Few studies have explored the link between paraben exposure and thyroid hormone homeostasis in pregnant women across trimesters. The present study involved 97 pregnant women from southern Taiwan (2013–2014), and involved measuring urinary methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl parabens, as well as serum thyroid hormones and related indices, such as Structure Parameter Inference Approach—Glandular Disturbance [SPINA-GD], and SPINA Global Turnover [SPINA-GT]). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were applied to examine the effect of longitudinal paraben exposure on thyroid hormone homeostasis. We found that propylparaben and butylparaben levels were associated with increased FT4 levels at the second visit (β = 0.07, p = 0.019; β = 0.08, p = 0.002), respectively. The GEE analysis further supported these associations, indicating the positive association between propylparaben levels and both T3 and FT4 levels over time (β = 0.05, p = 0.019 and β = 0.05, p = 0.026, respectively). Moreover, butylparaben levels were positively associated with FT4 (β = 0.05, p = 0.004) and inversely associated with the T4/FT4 ratio and SPINA-GD values (β = −0.04, p = 0.039 and β = −1.63, p = 0.004, respectively). In the GEE and BKMR analyses, a positive association was observed between PrP or paraben mixtures and T3 and FT4 levels, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that paraben and paraben mixtures have the potential to disrupt thyroid homeostasis by exerting a diverse hormonal effect. Further research is required to substantiate these conclusions in larger sample size populations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500154XParabenPregnant womenEndocrine-disrupting chemicalThyroid hormoneExposure assessment
spellingShingle Po-Chin Huang
Hsi Chen
Pao-Lin Kuo
Hsin-Chang Chen
Wan-Ting Chang
Jung-Wei Chang
Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Paraben
Pregnant women
Endocrine-disrupting chemical
Thyroid hormone
Exposure assessment
title Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women
title_full Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women
title_fullStr Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women
title_full_unstemmed Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women
title_short Associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in Taiwanese pregnant women
title_sort associations between urinary parabens and thyroid hormone homeostasis across trimesters in taiwanese pregnant women
topic Paraben
Pregnant women
Endocrine-disrupting chemical
Thyroid hormone
Exposure assessment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014765132500154X
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