Exposure to certain chemicals called phthalates and bisphenols during mid-pregnancy does not appear to affect blood sugar levels during routine testing, but exposure earlier in pregnancy might have a...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Plastic chemicals during pregnancy can make the body less responsive to insulin, causing blood sugar to rise after eating sugar. Another chemical from plastics can make the pancreas release more insulin, which lowers blood sugar. The first effect is stronger and more consistent, explaining why...
Most probable mechanism
Certain chemicals from plastics enter the body during pregnancy and trigger inflammation in fat and liver tissue, which blocks the body’s ability to use insulin properly. This causes blood sugar to rise when the body is tested with a sugar load. At the same time, these chemicals also change how fat cells develop and store energy, making it harder for the body to keep blood sugar in check.
Phthalate metabolites activate pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in adipose and hepatic tissues, increasing levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha.
Elevated tumor necrosis factor alpha disrupts insulin signaling by inhibiting insulin receptor substrate function and preventing glucose transporter GLUT4 from moving to the cell membrane.
Phthalate metabolites bind to and activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, altering the expression of genes involved in fat cell development and lipid metabolism.
Dysregulated adipogenesis and impaired insulin signaling reduce glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, leading to elevated blood glucose levels during a glucose challenge.
Less supported by current evidence, but not ruled out
Another chemical found in plastics can bind to receptors on insulin-producing cells, causing them to release more insulin and reducing the release of a hormone that raises blood sugar, which lowers blood glucose levels.
Bisphenol A binds to membrane-associated estrogen receptors on pancreatic beta cells.
This binding triggers rapid intracellular signals that increase the release of insulin in response to glucose.
Bisphenol A simultaneously impairs calcium signaling in pancreatic alpha cells, reducing glucagon secretion.
The combined increase in insulin and decrease in glucagon lowers circulating blood glucose levels during a glucose challenge.
Evidence from Studies
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