Cross-sectional analysis of bisphenol A with blood pressure among children

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen mimic. Prior work has identified a cross-sectional association between BPA and blood pressure (BP) and similar outcomes among adults; however, whether this is also true for children is unknown. Aim: Assess the cross-sectional relationship of BPA and BP percentile among children. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 2744 children aged 8-19 years participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003-2010. Subjects completed interviews, physical examinations and provided biological samples. BPA was determined using mass spectrometry on a spot urine sample. Three BP measurements were taken by trained study staff. Their average was transformed into BP percentiles and categories, in accordance with published guidelines for childhood BP. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design and incorporated appropriate survey weights. Multivariable linear (BP percentile) and multinomial (BP category) models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, parental education, body mass index percentile and smoking status. Results: In this population, geometric mean BPA was 2.57 ng/mL (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.42, 2.72); systolic and diastolic BP percentile were 44.3 mmHg (42.5, 46.1) and 34.6 mmHg (32.5, 36.7), respectively. 4.3% (3.2, 5.3) of children were prehypertensive and 2.6% (1.8, 3.4) were hypertensive. No relationship between BPA and BP percentile or category was observed. In adjusted models, children in the highest quartile of BPA exposure compared to those in the lowest had a -0.41 mmHg (-4.41, 3.58) change in systolic BP percentile; -2.71 (-7.57, 2.15) change in diastolic BP percentile. Similar results were observed for BP category. Conclusions: In contrast to prior work among adult cohorts, we did not observe an association between BPA and BP among children; possibly because insufficient time to develop elevated BP has elapsed for these children.