Environmental contaminants, sex hormones and SHBG in an elderly population

• Published in: Environmental research 2024-12, Vol.263 (Pt 1), p.120054, Article 120054
• Main Authors: Kushnir, Mark M., Salihovic, Samira, Bergquist, Jonas, Lind, P. Monica, Lind, Lars
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aromatase enzyme index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental contaminants; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Estradiol; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Humans; Male; Mass spectrometry; Prospective Studies; Sex hormone binding globulin; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - analysis; Sex hormones; Sweden; Testosterone
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120054

Effects of environmental contaminants (ECs) on endocrine systems have been reported, but few studies assessed associations between ECs and sex hormones (SH) in elderly. Aim of this study was to investigate whether blood concentrations of four classes of ECs were associated with SH concentrations in elderly. Samples from participants of the cross-sectional population-based Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors study (PIVUS, 70-year-old men and women, n = 1016) were analyzed using validated mass spectrometry-based methods for SH (testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estrone and estradiol (E2)); 23 persistent organic pollutants (POPs); 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); 4 phthalates and 11 metals. SH binding globulin (SHBG) was analyzed using immunoassay. The measured concentrations were normalized, and the values converted to a z-scale. Linear regression analyses were conducted to assess association between concentration of the SH, SHBG and E2/T (aromatase enzyme index, AEI) with the ECs. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to model the relationships. The strongest associations were observed with the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In men, the strongest associations with concentrations of SH and SHBG were seen for PCBs containing >5 chlorine, monoethyl phthalate (MEP), Ni and Cd; and in women, with PCBs, MEP, several of the PFAS, Cd, Co, and Ni. Difference in the effect of ECs on AEI between men and women were observed. Area under the ROC curve for the models predicting abnormal values of SH and SHBG >0.75 due to the effects of ECs was observed for T, DHT, and E2 in men, and for E2 and SHBG in women. Results of this study suggest that in elderly subjects, concentrations of many ECs associated with concentrations of SH and SHBG, and AEI. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings and to assess effect of the pollutants on endocrine system function in elderly. [Display omitted] •Measured 42 pollutants of 4 classes, 4 sex hormones (SH) and SHBG.•SH tested by LC-MS/MS: testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol (E2).•In men: T, DHT, and SHBG positively associated with PCBs with >5 chlorine atoms.•In women: T and E2 negatively associated with the PCBs; SHBG associated positively.•Elevated levels of PFAS linked to abnormal concentrations of E2 and SHBG.