News | Chemical Risks in Everyday Products: Links Between Thyroid Function and Fertility
A study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women's exposure to environmental phenolic chemicals may cause abnormal changes in thyroid hormone levels and affect reproductive health. Published in Toxics, the findings offer a new perspective on how environmental chemicals and lifestyle affect women's health and fertility.
Potential thyroid risks from phenolic chemicals
Phenolic chemicals in many everyday products—including bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan—may disrupt the endocrine system. These substances are found in toys, sunscreen, dental products, food packaging, and preservatives. Long-term exposure may disrupt thyroid function and contribute to conditions such as hypothyroidism.
Methods and key findings
The study analyzed 339 women attending a fertility clinic, measuring phenolic chemicals in urine and markers of thyroid function and autoimmunity in serum. Multiple statistical methods assessed the chemicals' combined effects on thyroid hormone levels.
Urinary bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan were associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels, and some were linked to a higher risk of thyroid disease. These chemicals are common ingredients in consumer products and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The complex relationship between fertility and thyroid health
“We focused on women with reduced fertility, who have been shown to face a higher risk of thyroid disease,” said senior author Dr. Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and reproductive epidemiologist. Earlier work in the same study population, the EARTH Study, found that women with abnormal thyroid hormone levels had lower ovarian reserve, reflected by lower antral follicle counts. Preventing substantial fluctuations in thyroid hormones may therefore be important for preserving female fertility.
Future research and significance
The team noted that some findings differed from earlier literature, possibly because of differences in study populations, phenol biomarker concentrations, or unmeasured phenolic chemicals. Future research should confirm the findings and examine the long-term effects of thyroid dysfunction.
The Brigham and Women's Hospital team included researchers from several international institutions, including Glenn McGee of the University of Waterloo, the paper's lead author, and Russ Hauser of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, principal investigator of the EARTH Study.
Dr. Mínguez-Alarcón concluded: “Women's health concerns not only personal well-being, but also fertility and awareness of potential risks. We hope this research provides strong support for improving women's health.”
Tin tức | Nguy cơ hóa chất trong sản phẩm hằng ngày: Mối liên hệ giữa chức năng tuyến giáp và khả năng sinh sản
News | Chemical Risks in Everyday Products: Links Between Thyroid Function and Fertility
A study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women's exposure to environmental phenolic chemicals may cause abnormal changes in thyroid hormone levels and affect reproductive health. Published in Toxics, the findings offer a new perspective on how environmental chemicals and lifestyle affect women's health and fertility.
Potential thyroid risks from phenolic chemicals
Phenolic chemicals in many everyday products—including bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan—may disrupt the endocrine system. These substances are found in toys, sunscreen, dental products, food packaging, and preservatives. Long-term exposure may disrupt thyroid function and contribute to conditions such as hypothyroidism.
Methods and key findings
The study analyzed 339 women attending a fertility clinic, measuring phenolic chemicals in urine and markers of thyroid function and autoimmunity in serum. Multiple statistical methods assessed the chemicals' combined effects on thyroid hormone levels.
Urinary bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan were associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels, and some were linked to a higher risk of thyroid disease. These chemicals are common ingredients in consumer products and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The complex relationship between fertility and thyroid health
“We focused on women with reduced fertility, who have been shown to face a higher risk of thyroid disease,” said senior author Dr. Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and reproductive epidemiologist. Earlier work in the same study population, the EARTH Study, found that women with abnormal thyroid hormone levels had lower ovarian reserve, reflected by lower antral follicle counts. Preventing substantial fluctuations in thyroid hormones may therefore be important for preserving female fertility.
Future research and significance
The team noted that some findings differed from earlier literature, possibly because of differences in study populations, phenol biomarker concentrations, or unmeasured phenolic chemicals. Future research should confirm the findings and examine the long-term effects of thyroid dysfunction.
The Brigham and Women's Hospital team included researchers from several international institutions, including Glenn McGee of the University of Waterloo, the paper's lead author, and Russ Hauser of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, principal investigator of the EARTH Study.
Dr. Mínguez-Alarcón concluded: “Women's health concerns not only personal well-being, but also fertility and awareness of potential risks. We hope this research provides strong support for improving women's health.”
Source:
Collected online