Exposure to phthalates is associated with grip strength in US adults

The potential association of exposure to phthalates with muscle strength was reported in previous animal experiments. However, their association was rarely directly investigated in general populations. Thus, we aimed to ascertain the association of exposure to phthalates with grip strength using cross-sectional analysis which included 2436 individuals aged >= 20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2011-2014. The multivariable linear regression models were performed with the adjustment of related covariates. The results suggested that a one-unit increase in log-transformed phthalate metabolites (mu g/g creatinine) was inversely associated with grip strength, including Mono-(2-ethyl)-hexyl phthalate (beta: - 2.727 kg, 95% CI: - 3.452, - 2.002), Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (beta: - 3.721 kg, 95% CI: - 4.836, - 2.607), Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexl) phthalate (beta: - 4.669 kg, 95% CI: - 5.761, - 3.577), Mono-2-ethyl-5carboxypentyl phthalate (beta: - 4.756 kg, 95% CI: - 5.957, - 3.554), Mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (beta: - 1.324 kg, 95% CI: - 2.412, - 0.235), Mono-carboxynonyl phthalate (beta: - 2.036 kg, 95% CI: - 3.185, - 0.886), Mono-benzyl phthalate (beta: - 2.940 kg, 95% CI: - 3.853, - 2.026), Mono-n-butyl phthalate (beta: - 2.100 kg, 95% CI: - 3.474, - 0.726), Mono-isobutyl phthalate (beta: - 2.982 kg, 95% CI: - 4.331, - 1.633), and Mono-ethyl phthalate (beta: - 1.709 kg, 95% CI: - 2.368, - 1.050). In subgroup analyses, the associations remained largely unchanged when the samples were stratified by gender and age; However they became ambiguous among underweight subjects when the samples were stratified by BMI status. Overall, exposure to phthalates was inversely associated with grip strength among US adults, regardless of their genders and ages. The suggestive potential BMI status-specific effects of phthalates on grip strength were observed.

Automated summary

This study found an inverse association between exposure to phthalates and grip strength among 2436 US adults, with consistent results across gender and age groups in subgroup analyses. However, the association became ambiguous when stratified by BMI status, suggesting potential BMI-specific effects of phthalates on grip strength.