Comments on: Can Plastics Make You Sick? More evidence BPA may cause heart disease, diabetes, liver damage - JAMA. http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/ Tips from health-care professionals on healthy living, medical controversies, personal growth and more. From James Hubbard's My Family Doctor Magazine. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:55:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor Blog » Blog Archive » Fat virus: Is obesity contagious? A doctor’s opinion on those studies. http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-2207 James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor Blog » Blog Archive » Fat virus: Is obesity contagious? A doctor’s opinion on those studies. Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:02:49 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-2207 [...] When you think of it, that’s all the proof we have in many cancer risk associations, even with BPA in children.  We have an association of increased disease with increased exposure in humans, along with proof [...] [...] When you think of it, that’s all the proof we have in many cancer risk associations, even with BPA in children.  We have an association of increased disease with increased exposure in humans, along with proof [...]

]]> By: James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor Blog » Blog Archive » Consumers Union suggests major FDA overhaul. Cites mercury, BPA, more. http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-1682 James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor Blog » Blog Archive » Consumers Union suggests major FDA overhaul. Cites mercury, BPA, more. Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:02:49 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-1682 [...] on December 15, Consumers Union further called on the FDA to quit wasting time and ban the chemical bisphenol A from infant and children’s products.  They say there is enough proof that BPA may affect [...] [...] on December 15, Consumers Union further called on the FDA to quit wasting time and ban the chemical bisphenol A from infant and children’s products.  They say there is enough proof that BPA may affect [...]

]]> By: Liz S http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-582 Liz S Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:58:26 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-582 Thanks much Dr. Hubbard for the concise and informative response. Liz Ss last blog post..<a href="http://flashfree.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/like-a-heatwave-burning-in-my-heart/" rel="nofollow">Like a Heatwave, Burning in My Heart</a> Thanks much Dr. Hubbard for the concise and informative response.

Liz Ss last blog post..Like a Heatwave, Burning in My Heart

]]> By: lhubbard http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-581 lhubbard Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:33:09 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-581 Whoa. Now that's a good answer. Thanks for the explanations. - Leigh Ann Whoa. Now that’s a good answer. Thanks for the explanations.

- Leigh Ann

]]> By: James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-580 James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:08:10 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-580 Thanks Judy, just don't chew on plastic toys and you will probably be ok. Thanks Judy, just don’t chew on plastic toys and you will probably be ok.

]]> By: James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-579 James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:02:16 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-579 Liz S and Leigh Ann: This was analysis study to see if there was an association between BPA and the diseases looked at. They looked at several diseases and saw an association with the 3 mentioned. It would be like checking hair color and seeing there was more hypertension in blondes than brunettes and redheads. It may be just a coincidence, or it could be due to genetics, bleach, etc (confounders). Several years ago, a large group of men were reviewed who had prostate cancer. It was found that more men who had prostate cancer had undergone vasectomies, ie an association was found. After more focused studies, this was found to just be a coincidence and there was no "cause and effect" at all. So next to be taken into consideration is finding an understandable, underlying mechanism of why there might be more diabetes, heart or liver disease associated with BPA, or is this just a coincidence. BPA has been studied in animals and the mechanism is there for diabetes and liver disease, but not yet in heart disease. A major weakness is that the BPA concentration in the urine has a short half-life, so the investigators were just associating these diseases with a "moment in time" of BPA exposure in the participants' life. Leigh Ann, even if they have a tendency for these diseases and BPA is the "last straw on the camel's back" that pushes them into the overt disease, that would be significant. Good point because further studies will probably look into that point. Liz S, as you know, confounding is a variable (something else) that could have caused the association with the diseases other than the BPA. The science of statistical analysis tries to remove as many of these as possible. In this study several things were taken into consideration (adjusted for confounding) by the investigators, so hopefully these did not affect the study. The study was adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference and urinary creatinine concentration (kidney function). The authors acknowledge that there could be other chemicals that associate with BPA, so that the participants who ingest BPA also ingest these chemicals at the same time. These chemicals could be causing the diseases rather than the BPA. The main weakness is that they just took a one time measurement of BPA, looked at a bunch of diseases to see if there any were more prevelant with high BPA concentrations and made the connection. "Independent replication is now needed to confirm these associations reported". Additional studies will measure concentrations of BPA for longer periods (months?) in the participitants to see if there is still an association. Independent scientists will find more flaw. in the days ahead. They love to do that. They will develop new studies to account for these weaknesses. This study was just a beginning. It will take a few years to objectively find out if the association is true, or just a coincidence. Liz S and Leigh Ann:
This was analysis study to see if there was an association between BPA and the diseases looked at. They looked at several diseases and saw an association with the 3 mentioned. It would be like checking hair color and seeing there was more hypertension in blondes than brunettes and redheads. It may be just a coincidence, or it could be due to genetics, bleach, etc (confounders). Several years ago, a large group of men were reviewed who had prostate cancer. It was found that more men who had prostate cancer had undergone vasectomies, ie an association was found. After more focused studies, this was found to just be a coincidence and there was no “cause and effect” at all.

So next to be taken into consideration is finding an understandable, underlying mechanism of why there might be more diabetes, heart or liver disease associated with BPA, or is this just a coincidence. BPA has been studied in animals and the mechanism is there for diabetes and liver disease, but not yet in heart disease.

A major weakness is that the BPA concentration in the urine has a short half-life, so the investigators were just associating these diseases with a “moment in time” of BPA exposure in the participants’ life.

Leigh Ann, even if they have a tendency for these diseases and BPA is the “last straw on the camel’s back” that pushes them into the overt disease, that would be significant. Good point because further studies will probably look into that point.

Liz S, as you know, confounding is a variable (something else) that could have caused the association with the diseases other than the BPA. The science of statistical analysis tries to remove as many of these as possible. In this study several things were taken into consideration (adjusted for confounding) by the investigators, so hopefully these did not affect the study. The study was adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference and urinary creatinine concentration (kidney function).

The authors acknowledge that there could be other chemicals that associate with BPA, so that the participants who ingest BPA also ingest these chemicals at the same time. These chemicals could be causing the diseases rather than the BPA. The main weakness is that they just took a one time measurement of BPA, looked at a bunch of diseases to see if there any were more prevelant with high BPA concentrations and made the connection. “Independent replication is now needed to confirm these associations reported”. Additional studies will measure concentrations of BPA for longer periods (months?) in the participitants to see if there is still an association.

Independent scientists will find more flaw. in the days ahead. They love to do that. They will develop new studies to account for these weaknesses. This study was just a beginning. It will take a few years to objectively find out if the association is true, or just a coincidence.

]]> By: Judy Rodman http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-578 Judy Rodman Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:46:55 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-578 I appreciate this fact-based information about plastics. I will now look for the number 7 on my plastic stuff. I have changed the way I get my water, from those big 5 gallon plastic barrels to using water from my tap with a filter (Aquasana) screwed to it. I change the filter regularly. I fill tall glass bottles which come with foam bag carriers for portable use. I am at the age that my toxic limit for drinking from plastic water bottles is probably up :< A pity about the soup cans, though! Judy Rodmans last blog post..<a href="http://judyrodman.com/2008/09/performance-how-to-make-your-next-one.html" rel="nofollow">Performance: How to make your next one masterful</a> I appreciate this fact-based information about plastics. I will now look for the number 7 on my plastic stuff.

I have changed the way I get my water, from those big 5 gallon plastic barrels to using water from my tap with a filter (Aquasana) screwed to it. I change the filter regularly. I fill tall glass bottles which come with foam bag carriers for portable use. I am at the age that my toxic limit for drinking from plastic water bottles is probably up :<

A pity about the soup cans, though!

Judy Rodmans last blog post..Performance: How to make your next one masterful

]]> By: James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-577 James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:06:29 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-577 Thanks Mark. I think you should be better safe than sorry with the baby's. They get a relatively larger dose due to size, and there is a lot of uncertainty on development. Thanks Mark. I think you should be better safe than sorry with the baby’s. They get a relatively larger dose due to size, and there is a lot of uncertainty on development.

]]> By: Mark Salinas http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-576 Mark Salinas Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:42:44 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-576 I have a friend that has a baby, this has been a hot topic within their conversations. They have steered towards the bottle bag inserts. I am going to send him this post. Good information! Thanks! Mark Salinass last blog post..<a href="http://blog.marksalinas.com/2008/09/14/music-and-health-by-andrea-may/" rel="nofollow">Music and Health by Andrea May</a> I have a friend that has a baby, this has been a hot topic within their conversations. They have steered towards the bottle bag inserts. I am going to send him this post. Good information! Thanks!

Mark Salinass last blog post..Music and Health by Andrea May

]]> By: lhubbard http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/2008/09/more-evidence-that-bisphenol-a-a-common-chemical-in-plastics-causes-heart-disease-diabetes-and-liver-damage/#comment-575 lhubbard Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:56:33 +0000 http://www.familydoctormag.com/blog/?p=512#comment-575 Great. I love soup--in cans. Oh well. I think I just won't chew on any toys. That'll be the trade off so I can enjoy my soup. :-) I wonder if the people in the study already had a propensity toward those diseases and maybe BPA is a potential additional aggravator. If they come out next week and say glass is killing us, too, then we're really up a creek. Leigh Ann Hubbard Managing Editor James Hubbard's My Family Doctor Great. I love soup–in cans.

Oh well. I think I just won’t chew on any toys. That’ll be the trade off so I can enjoy my soup.

:-)

I wonder if the people in the study already had a propensity toward those diseases and maybe BPA is a potential additional aggravator. If they come out next week and say glass is killing us, too, then we’re really up a creek.

Leigh Ann Hubbard
Managing Editor
James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor

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