Plastics could be affecting your prostate health
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common benign pathologies of the prostate, affecting 30% of men. It involves an enlargement of the prostate that is caused by rapid growth of prostate cells. The etiology of BPH is unknown but it seems to be multifactorial with age, genetics, hormones, obesity, and lifestyle being factors
The prostate cells react to the presence and balance of sex steroid hormones: estrogens and androgens. Studies have linked the imbalance of hormones in the elderly as a possible cause for cell proliferation.
The connection between plastics and body function
Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are substances that can interfere with normal hormonal balance. One such chemical phthalate, is widely used as a plasticizer and is present in a large variety of products. Early research has associated phthalates to male infertility, metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes), and testicular, breast and ovarian cancers.
A recent study has investigated the relationship of phthalates with BPH. The authors found a correlation between the presence of metabolites of phthalates in the urine, especially DEHP (the most common phthalate). They also found both an imbalance of estrogen/androgens and presence of oxidative stress markers that are associated with progression of BPH and inflammation.
Can I avoid Pthalates altogether?
Phthalates are ubiquitous in many consumer goods. The United States does not require all ingredients to be disclosed in products labels. Therefore, a common-sense recommendation to limit exposure would be: eating a balanced and varied diet (not consuming food from a limited number of sources), eliminating food that is canned or packaged in plastic, and choosing carefully labeled products that are directly used on the skin (moisturizers, cosmetics, perfumes, personal hygiene products, etc).
References
(1) Sex hormones and oxidative stress mediated phthalate-induced effects in prostatic enlargement. Chang et al, 2019.Environment International 126, 5, 184-192.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30798199. Accessed 3/4/2019
(2) Public Health Statement for Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Agency of toxic substances & disease registry https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=376&tid=65. Accessed 3/4/2019.
(3) Human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds: Their role in reproductive systems, metabolic syndrome and breast cancer. A review.Giulivo et al, 2016. Environmental Research 151, 11, 251-264. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935116302948?via%3Dihub. Accessed 3/11/2019.
Written by: Irene Hernandez, PT Edited by: Keely Faridi, PT
