Disruptive effects of bisphenol A levels on endocrine system in children with juvenile diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by insufficient insulin secretion in which insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are targeted and destroyed by the immune system. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of serum BPA levels on the endocrine system in combination with other parameters in children with newly diagnosed T1DM, and also to investigate the effect on apelin secretion. A total of 139 people, including 74 patients between the ages of 0-18 who were newly diagnosed with T1DM, 30 healthy siblings of these patients and 35 healthy children were included in the study. BPA, apelin, TSH, free T3, free T4, anti-TG, anti-TPO, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-peptide and HbA1c levels were measured from samples obtained from volunteers. Median serum BPA values were higher in children with newly diagnosed T1DM compared to their siblings and healthy children (p˂0,05). The median serum apelin values of the patients were found to be lower than their siblings and healthy children (p˂0,05). In all three groups, a moderate negative correlation was found between BPA and apelin. In terms of thyroid functions, no significant correlation was found between serum BPA and TSH, free T3 and, free T4 in all three groups (p>0,05). There was no significant correlation between BPA and total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-peptide and HbA1c in all groups (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between BPA level and positive/negative status of anti-TG and anti-TPO in the patient group (p>0.05). Our study showed that BPA levels were higher and apelin levels were lower in children with T1DM, and there was a negative relationship between BPA and apelin. This suggests that BPA and apelin may be associated with the development of T1DM. In addition, the absence of a statistically significant relationship between serum BPA levels and TSH, free T3 and free T4 in all three groups indicates that BPA is not associated with thyroid functions in children with T1DM.