title: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites in urine show age-related changes and associations with adiposity and parameters of insulin sensitivity in childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Phthalates might be implicated with obesity and insulin sensitivity. We evaluated the levels of primary and secondary metabolites of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in urine in obese and normal-weight subjects both before and during puberty, and investigated their relationships with auxological parameters and indexes of insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  DEHP metabolites (MEHP, 6-OH-MEHP, 5-oxo-MEHP, 5-OH-MEHP, and 5-CX-MEHP), were measured in urine by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS. Traditional statistical analysis and a data mining analysis using the Auto-CM analysis were able to offer an insight into the complex biological connections between the studied variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed changes in DEHP metabolites in urine related with obesity, puberty, and presence of insulin resistance. Changes in urine metabolites were related with age, height and weight, waist circumference and waist to height ratio, thus to fat distribution. In addition, clear relationships in both obese and normal-weight subjects were detected among MEHP, its products of oxidation and measurements of insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It remains to be elucidated whether exposure to phthalates per se is actually the risk factor or if the ability of the body to metabolize phthalates is actually the key point. Further studies that span from conception to elderly subjects besides further understanding of DEHP metabolism are warranted to clarify these aspects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smerieri
authors.affiliation: Interdepartimental Laboratory of Peptide & Protein Chemistry & Biology (www.peptlab.eu), Florence, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; PeptLab@UCP c/o LCB EA 4505 Université de Cergy-Pontoise, Cergy-Pontoise, France.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lazzeroni
authors.affiliation: Interdepartimental Laboratory of Peptide & Protein Chemistry & Biology (www.peptlab.eu), Florence, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; PeptLab@UCP c/o LCB EA 4505 Université de Cergy-Pontoise, Cergy-Pontoise, France.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.affiliation: Villa Santa Maria Institute, Tavernerio, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montanini
authors.affiliation: Clinical Physiology Institute (IFC-CNR), National Research Council of Italy, Lecce Section, Lecce, Italy; Division of neonatology, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.affiliation: Interdepartimental Laboratory of Peptide & Protein Chemistry & Biology (www.peptlab.eu), Florence, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; PeptLab@UCP c/o LCB EA 4505 Université de Cergy-Pontoise, Cergy-Pontoise, France.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Papini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy; Depts of Paediatrics and of Research and Statistics, S. Maria Nuova Hospital and Research Institute, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Street
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C016599:mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate