Exposure to phthalates, a chemical found in cosmetics and items such as shampoos, nail polishes and soaps, may be associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes in people. The conclusion is from a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The research pointed out that phthalates, already associated with reduced fertility and other endocrine disorders, contribute to the higher incidence of the disease in women and may affect the risk of more metabolic diseases. You results came from an evaluation of 1,308 women over six years.
Of those, nearly 5% of women developed diabetes during their period, showing that women exposed to high levels of some phthalates are between 30 and 63% more likely to develop diabetes.
There is type 2 diabetes when the person’s body does not take advantage of the insulin produced, and has overweight, sedentary lifestyle, high triglycerides, hypertension as its main causes.
“Our research is a step in the right direction to better understand the effect of phthalates on metabolic disease, but further investigation is needed,” the scientists said in a statement.
It’s worth remembering that phthalates help make plastic more durable and are used in personal care products, children’s toys, food and beverage packaging and even fast food meals. A 2021 study pointed out that these chemicals may have been linked to up to 107,000 premature deaths among Americans between the ages of 55 and 64.