A study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation showed the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) was associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
David Coggan, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at University of Southhampton, said:
“Despite important limitations in its methods, this study adds to suspicion of a possible hazard from BPA, and should be an encouragement to further research. A stronger study design would use results from several repeated urinary measurements in each subject, and a different method of statistical analysis. The findings are not sufficiently strong to warrant additional controls on BPA at this stage”
Professor Richard Sharpe from the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, said:
“This study provides somewhat more convincing evidence than previous studies that the significant association between exposure to bisphenol A and cardiovascular disease could represent cause and effect – although it by no means proves this. One concern by scientists about previous data on this subject, has been the possibility that bisphenol A levels in humans are simply a measure of ‘poor diet’ (ie poor diet increases the risk of cardiovascular disease at the same time as increasing intake of bisphenol A). An important aspect of the present study is that it largely rules this out as an explanation.
“Nevertheless, it is still scientifically difficult to reconcile the present findings with several recent studies which have shown that ingested bisphenol A is inactivated so rapidly in the body in humans that effective exposure of body tissues seems minimal. Until such discrepancies are resolved, controversy about bisphenol A will undoubtedly continue.
“Finally, the present results should be kept in perspective – bisphenol A exposure is associated with only a modest increase (11%) in risk of cardiovascular disease. By comparison, obesity doubles the risk.”
Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which co-funded the study, said:
“This study shows that patients who develop coronary heart disease are more likely to have had higher levels of BPA in their urine. More studies are now needed to understand the reasons why.
“We don’t believe there is any cause for the public or heart patients to be concerned by BPA. While this study suggests a possible link between BPA and heart disease, it’s clear that even if there is a link, the risk is very small indeed. The saturated fat, salt and sugar in pre-packaged foods are far more harmful than anything you’ll find in the packaging.”
‘Urinary Bisphenol: A Concentration and Risk of Future Coronary Artery Disease in Apparently Healthy Men and Women’ by David Melzer et al. was published in Circulation at on Tuesday 21st February 2012