title: Male specific association between xenoestrogen levels in placenta and birthweight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fetal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals may increase the risk for adverse health effects at birth or later in life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to analyze the combined effect of xenoestrogens on reproductive and perinatal growth outcomes (child birthweight, early rapid growth and body mass index (BMI) at 14 months) using the biomarker total effective xenoestrogen burden (TEXB).
  
  
  METHODS
  490 placentas were randomly collected in the Spanish prospective birth cohort Environment and Childhood (INMA) project. TEXB was used to assess the estrogenicity of placental samples in two fractions: that largely attributable to environmental organohalogenated xenoestrogens (TEXB-alpha), and that mostly due to endogenous estrogens (TEXB-beta), both expressed in estrogen equivalent units (Eeq) per gram of tissue. Linear or logistic regression models were performed adjusting for cohort and confounders. Sex interactions were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median TEXB-alpha level was 0.76 pM Eeq/g (interquartile range (iqr): 1.14). In multivariate models, higher TEXB-alpha levels (third tertile, >1.22 pM Eeq/g; iqr: 1.73) were associated with increased birthweight in boys but not in girls (β=148.2 g, 95% CI: 14.01, 282.53, p(int)=0.057). Additionally, higher TEXB-alpha values in boys were related with a lower risk of early rapid growth (OR=0.37; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.88) and with a non significant association with larger BMI z-scores at 14 months of age (β=0.29; 95% CI: -0.11, 0.69).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to xenoestrogens may increase birthweight in boys, which might have an impact on child obesity and other later health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. nvilahur@creal.cat
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vilahur
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Molina-Molina
authors.forename: Mariona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murcia
authors.forename: Juan Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Arrebola
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Esteban
authors.forename: Mònica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guxens
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santa Marina
authors.forename: Adonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardón
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olea
authors.forename: Mariana F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens