Prenatal bisphenol analogues exposure, metabolites in breast milk and offspring anthropometric growth during infancy: The Wuhan twin birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the associations between trimester-specific prenatal bisphenol analogues (BPs) exposures and offspring growth during infancy. Additionally, it sought to evaluate the mediating effect of breast milk metabolites on this relationship.

METHODS

The research examined the associations among bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS) levels collected from mothers during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, breast milk metabolites when the offspring were 1 month old, and infant growth measurements at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. General linear models (GLM), multiple logistic regression models, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were employed to assess the relationships between BPs, breast milk metabolites and offspring growth. The mediation package was utilized to evaluate the mediating effect of breast milk metabolites.

RESULTS

Significant associations were observed between first-trimester BPA (BPA_1) and 369 breast milk metabolites, primarily influencing glycometabolism and lipid metabolism pathways. BPA_1 were positively associated with infants' growth and ZBMI trajectory. Breast milk metabolites were also correlated with growth measurements and trajectories, predominantly categorized as glycometabolites and lipids. A mediating role was identified for 10 breast milk metabolites in the relationship between prenatal BPA_1 and infants' ZBMI at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

First-trimester BPA exposure may promote early growth and high ZBMI trajectory, which are risk factors for obesity in later life. This study highlights BPA_1's impact on breast milk metabolites and first reports breast milk metabolites as mediators on relationship between prenatal BPA exposure and offspring growth.