Bisphenol A exposure and thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy: A systematic review

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a phenolic chemical that has been found to be associated with human health outcomes. It is one of the risk factors for thyroid function. Pregnancy is a vulnerable window for thyroid problems, because of the fluctuations in hormone levels. This review aimed to evaluate the association between BPA exposure and thyroid function during pregnancy. We conducted a comprehensive search of relevant databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, for original studies published in English that reported data on BPA levels and thyroid-related hormone levels in pregnant women. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to assess the methodological quality of the studies and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method to evaluate the quality of evidence. In total, 11 studies involving 6526 individuals were included in this systematic review. These studies explored fluctuations in thyroid-related hormones, including TSH, TT3, TT4, FT3, and FT4 levels, as well as the TT4/TT3 and FT4/FT3 ratios. The systematic review is to evaluate the evidences between bisphenol A exposure and thyroid-related hormones in pregnant women. We found that BPA exposure in pregnancy might disturb the homeostasis of maternal thyroid-related hormones and suggest an increased risk of hyperthyroidism. Further studies based on the findings are required to explore the underlying mechanisms and determine the potential effects of BPA exposure on thyroid function during pregnancy.

Keywords: BPA; Maternal exposure; Pregnancy; Systematic review; Thyroid function; Thyroid hormones.