Research Description
New data suggests that synthetic chemicals used to make food storage and containers, including bisphenol A (BPA), is related to type 2 diabetes rates. However, no study to date has determine whether consumption of BPA alters the progression to type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this 2-group, randomized, double-blinded, experimental study is to determine whether oral consumption of BPA at a dose consistent with average exposure in adults, effects muscle insulin sensitivity and hepatic glucose suppression. Forty, normal-weight, sedentary adults will be randomly assigned to a 4-day energy balance diet plus oral BPA consumption at 50 ug/kg BW (Diet+BPA) or 4-day energy balance diet plus oral placebo consumption (Diet+No BPA). Participants will reside in our STRIDE Obesity Research Center facilities for 6 days (2-day baseline run-in followed by 4-day treatment) during which food intake and physical activity will be controlled. We hypothesize that participants randomized to Diet+BPA, compared to Diet+No BPA, will have reduced muscle insulin sensitivity and blunted hepatic glucose suppression. The proposed experimental study will be the first to determine whether consumption of BPA alters the progression to type 2 diabetes. Findings from this study will inform public health recommendations for food packaging, provide a framework for other studies in this area, and provide the first, much needed experimental evidence as to whether BPA consumption over several days poses any risk to type 2 diabetes.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?This project is focused on whether the mass industry produced chemical bisphenol A (BPA) has a direct effect on diabetes risk. Clearly, diet, physical activity, obesity and genetics play roles, but much is still unknown on the development of diabetes. This project will directly test whether oral consumption of BPA alters insulin sensitivity. Findings from this award will inform public health recommendations for food packaging, provide a framework for other studies in this area, and provide the first, much needed experimental evidence using gold standard measures as to whether BPA consumption over several days poses any risk of type 2 diabetes.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?This project will inform food packaging and labeling on whether to avoid foods packaged or manufactured with BPA. Diet is the main source of BPA exposure, as BPA enters food through food packaging, food containers, and food manufacturing. This project will help determine whether BPA actually has an effect on diabetes risk, and if so, packaged foods with BPA should be avoided.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?I have a family history of type 2 diabetes, and being able to conduct diabetes research to help prevent future diabetes is extremely important to me. This ADA award will play a large part in my research efforts, and will be the first study to determine whether the mass industry produced chemical bisphenol A over several days directly effects human health. Findings will be used as potential intervention targets for future studies.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?I see the future of diabetes research investigating the effects of other industry produced chemicals (e.g. bisphenols, phthalates) on diabetes risk in humans. We are constantly exposure to a variety of chemicals, and it is possible that these chemicals have endocrine disrupting effects and elevate diabetes risk. If these chemicals do in fact elevate diabetes risk, then interventions are needed to reduce exposure to these endocrine disrupting chemicals.