title: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, furans, and biphenyls (PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs) in breast milk and early childhood growth and IGF1.
abstract: Experimental studies have shown that dioxin-like chemicals may interfere with aspects of the endocrine system including growth. However, human background population studies are, however, scarce. We aimed to investigate whether early exposure of healthy infants to dioxin-like chemicals was associated with changes in early childhood growth and serum IGF1. In 418 maternal breast milk samples of Danish children (born 1997-2001) from a longitudinal cohort, we measured polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (pg or ng/g lipid) and calculated total toxic equivalent (total TEQ). SDS and SDS changes over time (ΔSDS) were calculated for height, weight, BMI, and skinfold fat percentage at 0, 3, 18, and 36 months of age. Serum IGF1 was measured at 3 months. We adjusted for confounders using multivariate regression analysis. Estimates (in parentheses) correspond to a fivefold increase in total TEQ. TEQ levels in breast milk increased significantly with maternal age and fish consumption and decreased with maternal birth year, parity, and smoking. Total TEQ was associated with lower fat percentage (-0.45 s.d., CI: -0.89; -0.04), non-significantly with lower weight and length at 0 months, accelerated early height growth (increased ΔSDS) (ΔSDS 0-18 months: +0.77 s.d., CI: 0.34; 1.19) and early weight increase (ΔSDS 0-18: +0.52 s.d., CI: 0.03; 1.00), and increased IGF1 serum levels at 3 months (+13.9 ng/ml, CI: 2.3; 25.5). Environmental exposure to dioxin-like chemicals was associated with being skinny at birth and with higher infant levels of circulating IGF1 as well as accelerated early childhood growth (rapid catch-up growth).
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction, The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 5064, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wohlfahrt-Veje
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Audouze
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brunak
authors.forename: Jean Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Antignac
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: le Bizec
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.forename: Niels E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Skakkebæk
authors.forename: Katharina Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Main
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C020887:dibenzo(1,4)dioxin