title: High cortisol and cortisone levels are associated with breast milk dioxin concentrations in Vietnamese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dioxin (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins+polychlorinated dibenzofurans) is one of the most toxic chemical substances known. Although it is suspected to cause endocrine disruption, very few epidemiological studies have been carried out on its effects on human steroid hormones. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of dioxin exposure with steroid hormone levels in the saliva and serum of Vietnamese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two areas, namely Phu Cat (hot spot) and Kim Bang (nonexposed area), were selected for the study. The study subjects consisted of 51 and 58 women respectively. Saliva, blood, and breast milk samples were collected from the subjects in both the areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, androstenedione, estrone, and estradiol levels in serum and saliva were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; dioxin concentrations in breast milk were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dioxin concentrations in the breast milk of women from the dioxin hot spot were three to four times higher than those in the breast milk of women from the nonexposed area. Good correlations were found between the levels of six steroid hormones in saliva and those in serum respectively. Salivary and serum cortisol and cortisone levels in women from the dioxin hot spot were significantly higher than those in women from the nonexposed area (P<0.001) and those in all the subjects were positively associated with dioxin concentrations in Vietnamese women (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that dioxin influences steroidogenesis in humans. Saliva samples can be used for hormone analysis and are therefore excellent specimens in epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, College of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: Tung Van
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Manh Dung
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Nhu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duc Dang
authors.forename: Ngoc Thien
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Tai The
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maruzeni
authors.forename: Muneko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishijo
authors.forename: Hidewaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Seijiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: Son Ke
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Hung Ngoc
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D000328:Adult; D000075182:Agent Orange; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D003348:Cortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003678:Defoliants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D003678:Defoliants, Chemical; D004147:Dioxins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D004970:Estrone; D000075182:Agent Orange; D004958:Estradiol; D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone