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Obesity Surgery
Published in: Obesity Surgery 4/2020

01-04-2020 | Obesity | Original Contributions

The Influence of Persistent Organic Pollutants on Thyroidal, Reproductive and Adrenal Hormones After Bariatric Surgery

Authors: Aina Jansen, Jens Petter Berg, Ole Klungsøyr, Mette Helen Bjørge Müller, Jan Ludvig Lyche, Jan Olav Aaseth

Published in: Obesity Surgery | Issue 4/2020

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Abstract

Introduction

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) are suspected endocrine disruptors.

Aim

To evaluate the associations between POPs and thyroidal, reproductive, and adrenal hormones in a study population treated with bariatric surgery.

Methods

Blood samples from a cohort of 63 participants before and 1 year after bariatric surgery were analyzed for 16 lipophilic POPs, 17 PFASs, and thyroidal, reproductive, and adrenal hormones. Participants reporting relevant medical conditions or interfering medication were excluded, and plausible confounders were corrected for in multiple regression analyses.

Results

Free thyroxine (fT4) showed a significant decrease from preoperative to postoperative follow-up, and regression analyses demonstrated that p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p-DDE) was inversely associated with the ratio free triiodothyronine/free thyroxine (fT3/fT4). Testosterone concentrations in male participants increased significantly in the study period, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) increased in both gender. Regression analyses showed positive associations between increased levels of lipophilic POPs and the raised postoperative testosterone and SHBG concentrations in males. For females, an inverse association between the sum perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (ΣPFCA) and SHBG was seen. Regression analyses of postoperative serum cortisol concentrations on changes in hexachlorobenzene (HCB) showed a non-significant inverse association.

Conclusion

The results suggest that POPs may have an influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes after bariatric surgery. Because of small sample sizes and discrepancy in the sampling time points pre- and postoperatively, the observed hormonal impacts of POPs must be interpreted as associative and not causative. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
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Metadata
Title
The Influence of Persistent Organic Pollutants on Thyroidal, Reproductive and Adrenal Hormones After Bariatric Surgery
Authors
Aina Jansen
Jens Petter Berg
Ole Klungsøyr
Mette Helen Bjørge Müller
Jan Ludvig Lyche
Jan Olav Aaseth
Publication date
01-04-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Obesity Surgery / Issue 4/2020
Print ISSN: 0960-8923
Electronic ISSN: 1708-0428
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-019-04273-w

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