JAMA news releases are made available to the public after 3 pm US Central time on the first 4 Tuesdays of each month. The Archives Journals news releases are made available to the public after 3 pm Central time on Mondays. We also provide a list of previous news releases.
THIS WEEK'S CONTENT
JAMA EARLY NEWS RELEASE
(Embargoed for Early Release: 9 a.m. CT Tuesday, September 16, 2008)
JAMA EARLY NEWS RELEASE
HIGHER URINARY LEVELS OF CHEMICAL USED IN PLASTIC FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, DIABETES
JAMA REPORT (VIDEO SCRIPT)
VIDEO: Windows Media | Quicktime
BISPHENOL A ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF DISEASE IN ADULTS
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THESE NEWS RELEASES IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. JOURNAL ATTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED.
TV Note: This week's JAMA Report video is on the medical disorders associated with high urinary levels of the chemical Bisphenol A. The report will be fed Tuesday, September 16, from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. ET and 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET, on Galaxy 28 (C-Band), Transponder 19, downlink frequency: 4080 vertical, audio 6.2/6.8. For more information, call 312/464-JAMA.
Please Note: The FOR THE MEDIA Web site now has a search feature to enable media to find previous JAMA/Archives news releases on specific medical topics. This search feature link is located on the home page at www.jamamedia.org.
JOURNALISTS CAN NOW ACCESS EMBARGOED JAMA/ARCHIVES STUDIES ONLINE
Go to www.jamamedia.org for more information and to apply for access.
Embargoed for Early Release: 9:00 a.m. CT, Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Media Advisory: To contact David Melzer, M.B., Ph.D., email: david.melzer{at}pms.ac.uk. To contact editorial co-author Frederick S. vom Saal, Ph.D., call Kelsey Jackson at 573-882-8353.
HIGHER URINARY LEVELS OF CHEMICAL USED IN PLASTIC FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, DIABETES
CHICAGO—Higher levels of urinary Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound commonly used in plastic packaging for food and beverages, is associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities, according to a study in the September 17 issue of JAMA. This study is being released early to coincide with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing on BPA.
BPA is one of the world’s highest production–volume chemicals, with more than two million metric tons produced worldwide in 2003 and annual increase in demand of 6 percent to 10 percent annually, according to background information in the article. It is used in plastics in many consumer products. “Widespread and continuous exposure to BPA, primarily through food but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts, is evident from the presence of detectable levels of BPA in more than 90 percent of the U.S. population,” the authors write. Evidence of adverse effects in animals has created concern over low-level chronic exposures in humans, but there is little data of sufficient statistical power to detect low-dose effects. This is the first study of associations with BPA levels in a large population, and it explores “normal” levels of BPA exposure.
David Melzer, M.B., Ph.D., of Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, U.K., and colleagues examined associations between urinary BPA concentrations and the health status of adults, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. The survey included 1,455 adults, age 18 through 74 years, with measured urinary BPA concentrations.
The researchers found that average BPA concentrations, adjusted for age and sex, appeared higher in those who reported diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A 1-Standard Deviation (SD) increase in BPA concentration was associated with a 39 percent increased odds of cardiovascular disease (angina, coronary heart disease, or heart attack combined) and diabetes.
When dividing BPA concentrations into quartiles, participants in the highest BPA concentration quartile had nearly three times the odds of cardiovascular disease compared with those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, those in the highest BPA concentration quartile had 2.4 times the odds of diabetes compared with those in the lowest quartile.
In addition, higher BPA concentrations were associated with clinically abnormal concentrations for three liver enzymes. No associations with other diagnoses were observed.
“Using data representative of the adult U.S. population, we found that higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities. These findings add to the evidence suggesting adverse effects of low-dose BPA in animals. Independent replication and follow-up studies are needed to confirm these findings and to provide evidence on whether the associations are causal,” the authors conclude. “Given the substantial negative effects on adult health that may be associated with increased BPA concentrations and also given the potential for reducing human exposure, our findings deserve scientific follow-up.”
(JAMA. 2008;300[11]:1303-1310. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
EDITORIAL: BISPHENOL A AND RISK OF METABOLIC DISORDERS
In accompanying editorial, Frederick S. vom Saal, Ph.D., of the University of Missouri, Columbia, and John Peterson Myers, Ph.D., of Environmental Health Sciences, Charlottesville, Va., comment on the findings regarding BPA.
“Since worldwide BPA production has now reached approximately 7 billion pounds per year, eliminating direct exposures from its use in food and beverage containers will prove far easier than finding solutions for the massive worldwide contamination by this chemical due its to disposal in landfills and the dumping into aquatic ecosystems of myriad other products containing BPA, which Canada has already declared to be a major environmental contaminant.”
“The good news is that government action to reduce exposures may offer an effective intervention for improving health and reducing the burden of some of the most consequential human health problems. Thus, even while awaiting confirmation of the findings of Lang et al, decreasing exposure to BPA and developing alternatives to its use are the logical next steps to minimize risk to public health.”
(JAMA. 2008;300[11]:1353-1355. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
For More Information: Contact the JAMA/Archives Media Relations Department at 312/464-JAMA (5262) or email: mediarelations{at}jama-archives.org.
Go back to the top.
JAMA REPORTS
VIDEO:
Windows Media |
Quicktime
BISPHENOL A ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF DISEASE IN ADULTS
INTRO:
Bisphenol A is a controversial chemical found in many plastic products we use every day including certain water bottles and baby bottles. Early studies involving lab animals indicate the chemical may pose a potential health risk. Now the first study of its kind involving humans indicates exposure to Bisphenol A, over many years, may increase your risk of developing certain diseases. Jennifer Mitchell explains in this week's JAMA Report.
VIDEO:
B-ROLL
BPA bottle
People drinking out of plastic containers
AUDIO:
BISPHENOL A ALSO KNOWN AS B-P-A IS FOUND IN MANY PLASTICS WE ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY. NOW THE FIRST STUDY OF THE CHEMICAL INVOLVING HUMANS INDICATES EXPOSURE TO B-P-A EVEN AT LOW LEVELS MAY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES.
VIDEO:
SOT/FULL
Super @ :18
David Melzer, M.B., Ph.D.
Peninsula Medical School
Runs: 08
AUDIO:
“It is the first evidence we’ve ever had on ordinary U.S. adults living ordinary lives.”
VIDEO:
B-ROLL
Doctor walking
Two doctors at table
Tight doctor shots
Document
GRAPHIC:
B-P-A Study in Humans (title)
1455 Adults
Ages 18 to 74
Higher levels of B-P-A
Higher risk of disease
AUDIO:
DOCTOR DAVID MELZER IS A PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AT PENINSULA MEDICAL SCHOOL IN EXETER, ENGLAND. HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES ANALYZED DATA FROM A HEALTH SURVEY COMPILED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION THAT MONITORS EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS. RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT MORE THAN FOURTEEN HUNDRED U.S. ADULTS AGES EIGHTEEN TO SEVENTY-FOUR. THE HIGHER THE LEVEL OF B-P-A IN THEIR URINE, THE HIGHER THEIR RISK OF DEVELOPING CERTAIN DISEASES.
VIDEO:
SOT/FULL
David Melzer, M.B., Ph.D.
Peninsula Medical School
Runs: 08
AUDIO:
“Quarter of the population with the highest levels of BPA were more than twice as likely to have diabetes or heart disease.”
VIDEO:
SOT/FULL
Super @ 1:02
Tamara Galloway, Ph.D.
University of Exeter
Runs: 08
AUDIO:
“The measurements we're making and the findings we're seeing are reflecting a long term exposure to a very low level over a long period of time.”
VIDEO:
B-ROLL
GXF/JAMA COVER
BPA bottle
Harmful logo
People drinking out of plastic containers
AUDIO:
THE STUDY APPEARS THIS WEEK IN JAMA, JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. RESEARCHERS SAY IT’S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHY B-P-A MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF CERTAIN DISEASES IN HUMANS. EARLIER STUDIES INVOLVING LAB ANIMALS PROVIDE A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION.
VIDEO:
SOT/FULL
Tamara Galloway, Ph.D.
University of Exeter
Runs: 12
AUDIO:
“They have suggested that Bisphenol A acts like a hormone where it disrupts the actions of hormones particularly estrogen and that might be having some effect on insulin resistance and on the way that fat is distributed in the body.”
VIDEO:
B-ROLL
Two researchers
BPA bottle
Adult drinking from plastic bottle
AUDIO:
RESEARCHERS EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS JUST ONE STUDY. WHILE THE FINDINGS ADD TO THE EVIDENCE THAT B-P-A MAY BE TOXIC EVEN AT LOW LEVELS, FURTHER STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO CONFIRM THE FINDINGS. JENNIFER MITCHELL THE JAMA REPORT.
TAG:
Researchers say that U.S. adults looked at in this study who had the highest levels on Bisphenol A in their urine not only were more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease and diabetes, but they also were more likely to have raised liver enzymes suggesting stress to the liver. Additional studies are needed in order to find out if B-P-A is the actual cause for the increase in disease. For more information about this study you can log on to www.jama.com.
