Plasma organochlorine concentrations in endurance athletes and obese individuals

Purpose: Organochlorines are lipophilic compounds that are ingested with food and that accumulate in adipose tissue. Their plasma concentrations were compared in three groups of individuals with different body fatness characteristics: endurance athletes, lean sedentary subjects, and obese individuals. Methods: The relationship between body fat mass and total plasma organochlorine concentration adjusted for age was analyzed by pooling data of sedentary lean and obese subjects. The regression equation derived from this analysis was also used to predict residual scores of total organochlorine concentrations in trained individuals, which were compared to measured values in these subjects. Results: Plasma organochlorine concentrations tended to be lower in athletes in comparison with values measured among lean sedentary individuals. Their concentrations were higher in obese individuals than in lean sedentary subjects and athletes. Total plasma organochlorine concentration was positively associated to body fat mass in the sedentary group (lean and obese combined, reference population). Conclusion: Large adipose tissue compartment such as observed in obese individuals is associated with increased levels of circulating organochlorines, whereas leaner sedentary and trained persons have a lower plasma concentration of these compounds.