Exploring the link between Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure and muscle mass: A systematic investigation utilizing NHANES data analysis, network toxicology and molecular docking approaches

. Eighty-eight targets associated with DEHP and sarcopenia were identified. Subsequent STRING and Cytoscape screening stressed 20 key targets, including CASP3, BCL2, MMP9, BCL2L1, APP, and CTSS. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these targets are involved in ligand-receptor interactions, apoptosis, and calcium signaling pathways. Molecular docking simulations using CB-dock confirmed the high-affinity binding interactions between DEHP and these key targets. This study validated the relationship between DEHP exposure and muscle mass. Further, it provided a theoretical basis for investigating the molecular mechanisms of DEHP exposure-induced skeletal muscle toxicity.