RESEARCH · December 08, 2014
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In a randomized, crossover trial, researchers evaluated 60 participants aged ≥60 years to determine the association of bisphenol A (BPA) with blood pressure and heart rate. Drinking canned beverages was associated with an increase in urinary BPA concentration and systolic blood pressure when compared with drinking glass-bottled beverages. No significant differences in heart rates were observed.
Findings support previous studies and suggest that BPA exposure through drinking canned beverages increases blood pressure.
1 Expert Comment
Cardiology
Ronald G Victor MD
A new study published this week in Hypertension tested the theory that drinking canned beverages promotes hypertension because the inner lining of cans is coated with bisphenol, a chemical that may block vascular estrogen receptors and increase sympathetic activity. While prior epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between increased urinary bisphenol levels with increased blood pressure (BP) and decreased heart rate variability, this is the first randomized controlled trial. Using a double-blind, randomized cross-over design, 60 older women (mean age, 73) were asked to drink two servings of soy milk (which might be expected to increase nitric oxide and thus decrease blood pressure) either from a can, from a bottle, or from both. Then, 2 hours later (at peak absorption of bisphenol), systolic BP (the average of two readings at each measurement period with an automatic monitor) fell in all three conditions but the fall was less (P< 0.05) when the soy milk was in a can (132 vs 129 mmHg, before vs after soy milk) than in a glass (135 vs 127 mm Hg). The fall in BP was associated with the increase in urinary bisphenol. Heart rate variability was unchanged. A lot more solid data would be needed—such as persistently increased blood pressure by ambulatory monitoring—to convince me to stop drinking canned beverages.
ABSTRACT
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in plastic bottles and inner coating of beverage cans, and its exposure is almost ubiquitous. BPA has been associated with hypertension and decreased heart rate variability in the previous studies. The aim of the present study was to determine whether increased BPA exposure from consumption of canned beverage actually affects blood pressure and heart rate variability. We conducted a randomized crossover trial with noninstitutionalized adults, who were aged ≥60 years and recruited from a local community center. A total of 60 participants visited the study site 3 times, and they were provided the same beverage in 2 glass bottles, 2 cans, or 1 can and 1 glass bottle at a time. The sequence of the beverage was randomized. We then measured urinary BPA concentration, blood pressure, and heart rate variability 2 hours after the consumption of each beverage. The paired t test and mixed model were used to compare the differences. The urinary BPA concentration increased after consuming canned beverages by >1600% compared with that after consuming glass bottled beverages. Systolic blood pressure adjusted for daily variance increased by ≈4.5 mm Hg after consuming 2 canned beverages compared with that after consuming 2 glass bottled beverages, and the difference was statistically significant. The parameters of the heart rate variability did not show statistically significant differences.The present study demonstrated that consuming canned beverage and consequent increase of BPA exposure increase blood pressure acutely.
Hypertension
Exposure to Bisphenol A From Drinking Canned Beverage Increases Blood Pressure: Randomized Crossover Trial
Hypertension 2014 Dec 08;[EPub Ahead of Print], S Bae, YC Hong