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Chemical softeners in plastics cause massive overweight
Plasticizers such as phthalates contained in plastics can be absorbed through the skin or food and significantly affect the hormone system. For a long time, the plasticizers are already suspected of influencing body weight, although "the exact relationships and mechanisms were still unclear," according to the latest release from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig. For the phthalate DEHP researchers of the UFZ have now identified in cooperation with scientists from the Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Obesity Diseases of the University and the University Hospital Leipzig, the metabolic pathway that causes the weight gain. Their findings were published in the journal "PLOS ONE".
According to the researchers, there are "many causes for the development of obesity," which "in addition to wrong eating habits and lack of exercise certainly genetic factors play a role". However, the influence of certain environmental pollutants should not be underestimated. For example, phthalates could be involved in the development of obesity. According to Professor Martin von Bergen, Head of the Department of Molecular Systems Biology at the UFZ, "epidemiological studies have already established serious correlations between elevated phthalate concentrations in the human body and the development of obesity." These should therefore be "further mechanistically investigated" UFZ expert the current study.
Plasticizers interfere with the metabolism and lead to a significant increase in weight. (Image: Piotr Wawrzyniuk / fotolia.com) Plasticizers can change from food to food packaging
In Germany, according to the researchers, almost every second adult is overweight and even in children and adolescents are already about 15 percent affected by obesity. "The numbers are alarming, because with every kilo that is too much, the health risk for cardiovascular disease, joint damage, chronic inflammation and cancer increases," emphasizes Professor Martin von Bergen. In addition, the number of overweight people worldwide is steadily rising. The influence softening agents have on the development is so far unclear. Basically, these are contained in plastics to make them soft, flexible or stretchy. However, phthalates can "also escape from the material under certain conditions and be absorbed into our bodies via food," the researchers warn. For example, phthalates would be used in food packaging, especially in fatty products such as cheese or sausage.
Significant weight gain and altered metabolism
The effect that absorbed plasticizers have on the body and how they can influence body weight has remained largely unclear. The scientists of the UFZ and the IFB have therefore investigated the effect of the softener DEHP on the basis of mice. Dr. Nora Klöting and Professor Matthias Blüher of the IFB let mice take the phthalate DEHP via their drinking water in experiments at the University of Leipzig. The animals then increased significantly in weight, "this was especially the case with female animals," the researchers report. At the UFZ an examination of blood samples of the mice took place, with the emphasis on a characterization of the metabolic products in the blood. The researchers found that "the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the blood increased under the influence of phthalate and the glucose metabolism was disturbed," according to the UFZ. In addition, "the composition of receptors in the blood, which are important for the entire metabolism and can lead to a change in the metabolism," was also changed.
Intervention in the hormone balance
The scientists also report that some metabolic products that are formed by adipose tissue, among others, are also active as messenger substances and control the functions in other organs. "However, it has not yet been conclusively clarified how the different effects of phthalates on the metabolism influence each other and ultimately lead to an increase in weight," stresses Professor Martin von Bergen. However, it is clear that phthalates obviously interfere massively with the hormone balance. "Even in low concentrations, they lead to significant changes, such as weight gain," explains von Bergen.
Basic research for risk assessment
In further investigations, the scientists of the UFZ, the University and the University Hospital Leipzig plan to further investigate the influence of phthalates on the metabolism. In addition, the effect of plasticizers on the development of childhood diseases by Professor Martin von Bergen together with UFZ colleagues from the Department of Environmental Immunology in the context of the mother-child study LiNA is examined. The molecular biologist emphasizes that a "solid basic research" is the goal of their work. The results could then "help the authorities responsible for risk assessment of chemicals at German and European level to make their assessments," said Professor Martin von Bergen. (Fp)