Adults who ingested supposedly “safe” levels of BPA developed increased insulin resistance, according to findings presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.
In short:
- Healthy adults who ingested BPA developed more insulin resistance than those with a low-BPA diet after only four days of exposure.
- The exposure levels were within the “safe” dose designated by the U.S. EPA and FDA.
- The study authors suggest that reducing BPA exposure from food packaging could lower an individual’s risk for diabetes.
Key quote:
“With the increase in diabetes in the US, it is our duty to ensure safety within our products and in our homes. This is only the beginning of highlighting the need for informed public health recommendations and policies.”
- Dr. Robert Gabbay, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), via the ADA Press Release
Why this matters:
This is a rare experimental study conducted on humans and shows that even brief exposure to BPA can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. While this is the first study linking BPA to insulin resistance, it is not the first human experimental study on BPA and diabetes: A 2018 study, conducted in part by Environmental Health Sciences Founder and Chief Scientist Pete Myers, found that just one dose of BPA affected insulin response in adults. Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, the authors of this study stress the need to reconsider both our regulatory and medical approach to BPA exposure.
Related EHN coverage:
- In a scientific first, researchers gave people BPA — and saw a link to precursor of type 2 diabetes
- Everyone is likely overexposed to BPA – EU
- FDA’s current BPA safety standards are outdated, misguided and flawed, scientists say
More resources:
- American Diabetes Association (ADA): Study reveals decrease in bisphenol A exposure can impact type 2 diabetes care
- The Diabetes and the Environment webpage on BPA summarizes the hundreds of peer-reviewed, published studies on bisphenols, diabetes, and obesity.
