Bisphenol-A (BPA) and obesity

There is no valid scientific data to support the claims that bisphenol A (BPA) exposure might cause obesity. The European authorities have confirmed that there is no valid evidence that any dose of BPA produces obesity in animals or humans, nor to support the hypothesis that low doses of BPA affect body weight in rodents treated in utero, via lactation, or directly.

Recently, certain media have reported that BPA exposure might be linked to obesity. These claims are based on a small number of studies with limitations (e.g., a small number of animals per group, a limited number of dose levels, using an inappropriate route of exposure, lack of consistency). Studies with such characteristics are also considered in regulatory assessments; however, the European authorities have based their opinion on the results of the most comprehensive studies respecting Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and following accepted test guidelines.

Recent reviews by scientists and health authorities, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Center for Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), and Health Canada, examined the BPA mammalian toxicology literature on reproduction, including large studies (meeting or exceeding OECD guidelines) by the oral route, as well as small studies that utilised both oral and non-oral (parenteral) routes of administration. All of the reviewers' evaluations cited above were consistent with the conclusion that BPA exposure does not produce obesity in rodents.

The recently published final U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) report on BPA concluded that "there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that Bisphenol A exposure during development predisposes laboratory animals to develop obesity or metabolic diseases such as diabetes, later in life ..." The NTP concurs with the CERHR Expert Panel on BPA that the effects of BPA on body weight at "low" doses are inconsistent.

More information

Position Paper: PC/BPA Group statement on Obesity
EFSA summary, full opinion and updates
U.S. Toxicology Program (NTP): Final report on bisphenol A
Two-Generation Reproductive Toxicity Study of Dietary bisphenol A (BPA) in CD-1(R) (Swiss) Mice Rochelle W. Tyl, Christina B. Myers, Melissa C. Marr, Carol S. Sloan, Nora P. Castillo, M. Michael Veselica, John C. Seely, Stephen S. Dimond, John P. Van Miller, Ronald N. Shiotsuka, Dieter Beyer, Steven G. Hentges, and John M. Waechter (2008). To view the study, click here.
Willhite CC, Ball GL, McLellan CJ (2008) J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. Derivation of a bisphenol A oral reference dose (RfD) and drinking-water equivalent concentration. To view an abstract, click here.
Chapin R, Adams J, Boekelheide K, Gray L, Hayward S, Lees P, McIntyre B, Portier K, Schnorr T, Selevan S, Vandenberg J, Woskie S (2007) NTP-CERHR Expert Panel Report on the Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of bisphenol A. To view the study, click here.
Goodman JE, McConnell EE, Sipes IG, Witorsch RJ, Slayton TM, Yu CJ, Lewis AS, Rhomberg LR. An updated weight of the evidence evaluation of reproductive and developmental effects of low doses of bisphenol A (2006). To view an abstract, click here.
Gray, G. M., Cohen, J. T., Cunha, G., Hughes, C., McConnell, E. E., Rhomber, L., Sipes, I. G. and Mattison, D. Weight of the evidence evaluation of low-dose reproductive and developmental effects of bisphenol A. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 2004. To view an abstract, click here.
Tyl RW, Myers CB, Marr MC, Thomas BF, Keimowitz AR, Brine DR, Veselica MM, Fail PA, Chang TY, Seely JC, Joiner RL, Butala JH, Dimond SS, Cagen SZ, Shiotsuka RN, Stropp GD, Waechter JM. 2002. Three-generation reproductive toxicity study of dietary bisphenol A in CD Sprague-Dawley rats. To view the study, click here.