{"title":"Prenatal Exposure to Parabens: Associations with Reproductive Hormone Alterations Prenatal Paraben Exposure and Reproductive Hormones.","authors":"Abderrezak Khelfi, Aicha Touati, Ikram Zouaoui, Mohamed Cherifi, Amel Dammene-Debbih, Lounas Benghanem, Youcef Tayebi, Mohamed Azzouz","doi":"10.1016/j.ando.2026.102562","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parabens are ubiquitous in the environment due to their extensive use in food, personal care products and pharmaceuticals. Owing to their estrogenic properties, they are classified as suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to characterize paraben exposure profiles in umbilical cord blood and to evaluate associations between paraben concentration and reproductive hormone level in pregnant women.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>A total of 154 pregnant women living in Algiers were recruited. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected immediately after delivery. Reproductive hormones (LH, FSH, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol and prolactin) were quantified by electrochemiluminescence. Methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), and propylparaben (PP) were measured using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MP, EP and PP were detected in 88.3%, 74.0% and 85.1% of samples, respectively, with mean concentrations of 1,420 ± 1,085, 1,193 ± 1,196, and 1,402 ± 1,308 ng/mL. Significant negative associations were found between MP and both FSH (β = -0.051) and estradiol (β = -1173.862). MP and PP concentrations were inversely associated with testosterone level (β = -0.248 and β = -0.239, respectively). EP concentrations showed a significant negative correlation with prolactin (β = -854.906). Sex-stratified analyses revealed distinct patterns. In male neonates, MP was inversely associated with FSH and EP was negatively associated with prolactin. In female neonates, MP was inversely associated with estradiol and testosterone, while PP was also negatively associated with testosterone. No significant associations were observed between parabens and luteinizing hormone or progesterone in either sex.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Prenatal exposure to parabens is associated with alterations in reproductive hormone levels, which may have adverse consequences for newborn health.</p>","PeriodicalId":93871,"journal":{"name":"Annales d'endocrinologie","volume":" ","pages":"102562"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annales d'endocrinologie","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ando.2026.102562","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Parabens are ubiquitous in the environment due to their extensive use in food, personal care products and pharmaceuticals. Owing to their estrogenic properties, they are classified as suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Objectives: This study aimed to characterize paraben exposure profiles in umbilical cord blood and to evaluate associations between paraben concentration and reproductive hormone level in pregnant women.
Material and methods: A total of 154 pregnant women living in Algiers were recruited. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected immediately after delivery. Reproductive hormones (LH, FSH, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol and prolactin) were quantified by electrochemiluminescence. Methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), and propylparaben (PP) were measured using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.
Results: MP, EP and PP were detected in 88.3%, 74.0% and 85.1% of samples, respectively, with mean concentrations of 1,420 ± 1,085, 1,193 ± 1,196, and 1,402 ± 1,308 ng/mL. Significant negative associations were found between MP and both FSH (β = -0.051) and estradiol (β = -1173.862). MP and PP concentrations were inversely associated with testosterone level (β = -0.248 and β = -0.239, respectively). EP concentrations showed a significant negative correlation with prolactin (β = -854.906). Sex-stratified analyses revealed distinct patterns. In male neonates, MP was inversely associated with FSH and EP was negatively associated with prolactin. In female neonates, MP was inversely associated with estradiol and testosterone, while PP was also negatively associated with testosterone. No significant associations were observed between parabens and luteinizing hormone or progesterone in either sex.
Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to parabens is associated with alterations in reproductive hormone levels, which may have adverse consequences for newborn health.
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