Evaluation of relationship between serum bisphenol A, bisphenol F, phthalate, and some heavy metal levels of patients with phenylalanine metabolism disorder according to treatment regimens.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common amino acid metabolism disorder. Patients with blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels of 6 mg/dl require treatment, and the most definitive treatment is the Phe-restricted diet. Environmental pollutants are substances that result from human activities and contaminate the environment, directly or indirectly causing acute or chronic health problems. One of the major routes of exposure to these environmental pollutants is through the gastrointestinal system. We planned to evaluated the possible routes of exposure to these environmental polluntants in patients diagnosed with PKU (n=105, 2-6 years of age) and determined the relationship between the plasma levels of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F, di-butyl phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2ethylhexyl) phthalate, lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium, mercury, trace elements and dietary regimens. Thirty-four of these patients were on a PA-restricted diet, while the remaining 71 had no dietary restrictions. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, the odds of having a plasma BPA level in the upper tertile were 3.34 times higher in the free diet group (95% CI=1.09-10.25). When we additionally adjusted for plastic exposure rosuorces, the odds ratio was found to be 18.64 (95% CI=2.09-166.42) for BPA. Individuals in the upper tertile of Pb levels was present 3.47 times (95% CI = 1.07-11.29) in those who consumed canned food and 7.29 times (95% CI = 1.21-44.03) in those who consumed spring water. Individuals under four years of age had 7.26 times higher odds for As levels in the upper tertile (95% CI = 2.09-25.28). Canned food users had 8.17 times higher odds for As levels in the upper tertile (95% CI = 2.13-31.27). Our results indicate that exposure to environmental pollutants varies with dietary treatment.