Beverages whose packaging contains bisphenol A affect health
On December 8, 2014, the journal Hypertension published online the results of a small South Korean randomized trial with a multiple-averaged study design that showed that drinking soy milk from a metal container led to increased levels of BPA/compound, which is found in the plastic layer of cans/in urine and to an increase in systolic blood pressure compared to the use of this drink from glass bottles.
The South Korean study builds on earlier epidemiological evidence that people with high concentrations of this compound in their urine are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the consumption of canned drinks and therefore in contact with bisphenol A influence the level of arterial pressure and heart rate variability.
In the South Korean study, 56 women were included and four were 60 and over 60 years of age (the average age of the participants was 73) from a local community center.
The average blood pressure level of the participants was 134/80 mmHg and 43% of them were on antihypertensive therapy.
For the purpose of the study, the participants visited the research center 3 times with an interval of a week after abstaining from food consumption at night.
Participants were asked to drink 2 servings of commercially available soy milk from glass bottles, metal containers, or both.
2 hours after consuming soy milk from cans with a plastic layer, the average level of BFA in the urine of the participants was 1600% higher than after consuming a soy drink from glass bottles – 16.91 micrograms per liter versus 1.13 µg/ l.
After taking the drink from glass bottles, the average level of systolic arterial pressure decreased by 7.9 mm Hg, but taking the drink from a metal package, this reduction represented a fat 2.9 mm Hg, that is, by 5 mm g. with less /P=0.016/.
According to the authors of the study, this relative “increase” in the level of systolic pressure leads to a clinically significant increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease and explains the correlation previously established in epidemiological studies between high levels of urinary BPA and heart disease and the peripheral vessels.
No difference in heart rate variability was found in the South Korean study.
The scientists note that they chose soy milk for the purposes of the study because it does not raise blood pressure by itself.
In fact, as observed in this study, this soy drink helps lower blood pressure in mild to moderate hypertension.
Commenting on the results of the study, the authors note that they were able to describe a relatively short-term effect, and therefore in the future, long-term studies will be needed to evaluate the relationship between repeated exposure to BPA and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
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At the same time, South Korean scientists are of the opinion that the data they received is enough for the responsible institutions to pay attention to the fact that the impact of bisphenol A poses a significant risk to public health and call for stricter measures to control it of the content of this compound in foods.
