BPA (Bisphenol A) Exposure and High Blood Pressure

There is enough research evidence that prolonged exposure to BPA products may cause permanent hypertension.

A study by the Seoul National University of Medicine, performed on volunteers above the age of 60, was published in 2015 in “Hypertension” medical journal, demonstrated that consuming beverage canned in BPA-containing products, can lead to sudden blood pressure increases. Urine tests in that study, showed a 1,600 percent increase in Bisphenol A among those who drank from cans, compared with those who drank from glass bottles.

A recent study performed on 645 four year old children,  showed that exposure to Bisphenol A during pregnancy is associated with higher diastolic BP in childhood.  Measurement of BPA was made at around 20 weeks of gestation.

Research Facts About BPA

• BPA is chemical component added to many industrial products including plastic food containers and is one of the most common chemical exposures in everyday life.
• Research studies suggest that BPA can migrate into food and beverages stored in materials containing the substance.
• BPA is suspected to cross placenta in pregnancy and might affect children’s health.
• Prenatal BPA exposure could cause behavioral problems in children.
• Recent evidence suggests that BPA has toxic effects on the immune system.
• In 2012 FDA decided to exclude BPA from manufacturing of baby bottles and sippy cups, after request of American Chemistry Council (ACC).
• According to European Food Safety Authority, a consumer would have to ingest more than 1, 300 pounds of food and drinks in contact with Bisphenol A-containing plastic every day.
• BPA is considered an endocrine-disrupting chemical that mimics the hormone estrogen. Bisphenol A binds to three hormone receptors in the body, mimicking their action – the thyroid hormone, the male hormone, and the estrogen receptors. When Bisphenol A binds to these receptors, hormone production levels are severely affected.
• BPA causes damage on brain tissue at developmental ages.
• A Harvard Medical School study have shown that dental fillings and sealants contain  very high levels BPA, although  dentists are still claiming that these fillings and sealants are still absolutely safe for children.
• Genotoxicity (i.e the damage of cell DNA that could lead to cancer). Due to its chemical similarity to diethylstilbestrol, which is carcinogenic to mammals, the possible genotoxicity of BPA has already largely been evaluated.

Reduce Your Risk Of BPA Exposure

It is practically impossible to totally avoid contact with BPA products but you can always reduce your exposure.

Here are some steps to take:

1. Substitute food and beverage containers made from plastic, with materials that do not contain BPA, such as glass and ceramic alternatives.
2. Do not expose plastic bottles to sunlight or heat. Heat exposure causes BPA from the plastic to ooze into the liquid content. For instance, a plastic bottle with water forgotten in the backseat of your car,  “just in case you are thirsty” is not a good habit.
3. Do not microwave plastic. A “microwavable” plastic container will not melt under microwave oven’s heat, but BPAs can still leak into your food. Use ceramic or glass containers to microwave your food instead.
4. Reduce canned food consumption.
5. Choose beverages in glass bottles instead of plastic.
6. Prefer wooden toys for your kids.
7. Substitute your kid’s plastic dinnerware set  with wooden or bamboo plates if she/he is too young to handle glass dinnerware.
8. Frozen food is better than canned food.

Reversing BPA Effects

Complete elimination of Bisphenol A-containing products from your life could be a little difficult, because plastic is present almost everywhere and only highlighting the adverse effects of this chemical is not enough. Research evidence suggests that BPA degradation is mainly depended on the metabolism of bacteria and there is a list of 13 natural substances that have been designated as effective in combating the effects or even the presence of BPA. The most common out of them include probiotics and melatonin.

Probiotics

Probiotics could exert a protective effect against dietary exposure to Bisphenol A. Experimental studies in animals fed with probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus casei strains, revealed that blood concentration of Bisphenol A after its oral administration was significantly decreased. Additionally  the amount of BPA excreted in the feces was significantly higher.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a very promising pharmacological agent for prevention of  the potential BPA -induced genotoxicity following occupational or environmental exposure. Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. As medicine is made synthetically in the laboratoty and it is most commonly available in pill form.

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