BPA Disrupts Hormones and Blood Sugar Metabolism–How to Limit Exposure

Bisphenol-A, chemical known to disrupt homones, has wide-ranging effects on the human body and is found in many everyday items.

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You started your day with a to-go coffee, heated up leftovers in a plastic container, and grabbed a receipt at the store. Without realizing it, you’ve been exposed to BPA (bisphenol-A) at least three times before noon.

While BPA is often discussed in relation to the female hormone estrogen, its effects reach far beyond reproductive health.

Disruption Explored

BPA acts as an endocrine or hormonal disruptor by mimicking estrogen and binding to hormone receptors, which can interfere with normal hormonal signaling, Wesley McWhorter, a registered dietitian with a doctor of public health degree, told The Epoch Times. It may also affect hormones involved in appetite regulation and metabolism, such as leptin, the satiety hormone, and adiponectin, a hormone that helps regulate metabolism and inflammation, he added.

Disrupting these hormones could have wide-ranging effects. BPA’s interference with reproductive hormones may contribute to infertility, menstrual irregularities, and lower sperm quality. Meanwhile, its impact on leptin could lead to increased appetite and a higher risk of obesity.

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Frederick vom Saal, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said that BPA also alters enzymes responsible for the production of reproductive hormones, leading to increased estradiol (a form of estrogen) and decreased testosterone production in animal studies, disrupting the natural balance of hormones.

Additionally, BPA disrupts the hormone regulatory system in the brain and pituitary gland (a hormone-producing organ at the base of the brain), interfering with the normal function of the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis—a system that regulates reproductive hormones—involving the brain, pituitary gland, and gonads (ovaries or testes), vom Saal added.

On a more fundamental level, BPA can further change how genes work by turning certain genes on or off. This may increase the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers by interfering with fat storage, insulin regulation, and cell growth. These changes could also make cancer-related genes more active or suppress protective ones, potentially raising the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

Blood Sugar Metabolism

Oral exposure to BPA, even at levels deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency, can disrupt the body’s insulin response to sugar. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. BPA can overstimulate insulin secretion in response to glucose while impairing the body’s ability to produce new insulin over time. It also interferes with insulin function and glucose metabolism.

vom Saal also noted that BPA alters the insulin response to glucose in mice and humans. Reducing BPA exposure could, therefore, lead to improvements in metabolic health, he said.

How to Limit Exposure

Hormonal and metabolic disruptions are influenced by the dose of BPA and how exposure levels, even within those deemed “safe,” interfere with glucose regulation and insulin response. A study of men and postmenopausal women exposed to BPA levels within the safety guidelines found notable changes in insulin response, showing that BPA may contribute to metabolic issues like insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes, even at low doses.

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Some people may be more sensitive to BPA due to factors like genetics, age, or existing health conditions.

BPA is a high-production chemical, with more than a million pounds released annually. Most people are exposed unwittingly countless times a day.

BPA is used to produce polycarbonate plastics in hard plastic bottles and food storage containers—as well as the resins that line most metal food cans. It’s also in water pipes, electronics, and various consumer plastics, including children’s toys. It is more likely to leach into food and beverages when containers or cans are heated, such as microwaving food in plastic or leaving a plastic water bottle in a hot car.

Beyond plastics, BPA is used as a thin coating on thermal paper, including grocery store receipts and boarding passes. It easily transfers from receipts to skin and other surfaces, causing blood levels to spike within seconds of handling. Moreover, using hand sanitizer before touching receipts further increases absorption due to chemicals that enhance skin penetration, a concern since many people use hand sanitizer while shopping or traveling.

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With these effects in mind, it’s important to know how to limit BPA exposure in daily life. McWhorter recommended the following steps:

• Choose fresh, whole foods: Packaged and processed foods can contain BPA. Opting for fresh or minimally processed foods can help reduce exposure.
• Use BPA-free containers: Glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic containers are great alternatives for storing food and beverages.
• Avoid heating food in plastic: Heat can cause BPA to leach into food. Using microwave-safe glass or ceramic containers is a better choice.
• Check canned food labels: Many cans are lined with BPA, but some brands offer BPA-free options. Checking labels can help you make informed decisions.
• Check recycling codes: Plastics labeled with recycling codes three or seven may contain BPA. When possible, choose alternatives to reduce exposure.

Additionally, vom Saal shared that in a study they conducted, human participants who avoided canned food and drinks, refrained from using polycarbonate plastics, and minimized contact with thermal receipt paper saw a significant reduction in their BPA exposure. 

Government actions play a crucial role in reducing BPA exposure, complementing individual efforts. In December 2024, the European Commission adopted a ban on the use of BPA in food-contact materials, including coatings on metal cans and reusable plastic drink bottles. Similarly, in January 2020, the EU prohibited BPA in thermal paper receipts, addressing another common source of exposure.

In the United States, the National Toxicology Program and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences launched the CLARITY-BPA program. This program brings together research from both government and academic sources to study the health effects of BPA and help guide safety decisions.

Imagine a morning without BPA. You wake up, sip your coffee from a glass or stainless-steel cup, heat your leftovers in a ceramic container, and opt for paperless receipts. Taking such small steps has the potential for huge benefits.