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News Brief: March 2011
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Contacts: Arlyn G. Riskind Director, Media Relations Phone: (301) 941-0240 Email: ariskind@endo-society.org Aaron Lohr Associate Director, Media Relations Phone: (240) 482-1380 Email: alohr@endo-society.org 1. Exposure to Chemicals in Environment Associated with Onset of Early Menopause
1. Exposure to Chemicals in Environment Associated with Onset of Early Menopause Exposure to perfluorocarbons associated with lower concentrations of the hormone estradiol A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that higher levels of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) in the body are associated with increased odds of having experienced menopause in women between 42 and 64 years old. Women in this age group with high levels of PFCs also had significantly lower concentrations of estrogen when compared to women who had low levels of PFCs. PFCs are man-made chemicals used in a variety of household products including food containers, clothing, furniture, carpets and paints. Their broad use has resulted in widespread dissemination in water, air, soil, plant life, animals and humans, eve in remote parts of the world. A probability sample of U.S. adults, found measurable concentrations of PFCs in 98 percent of the participants tested. “The current study is the largest ever to be done on the endocrine-disrupting effects of perfluorocarbons in human women,” said Sarah Knox, PhD, of the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown and lead author of the study. “Our data shows that after controlling for age, women of perimenopausal and menopausal age in this large population are more likely to have experienced menopause if they have higher serum concentrations of PFCs than their counterparts with lower levels.” In this study of 25,957 women aged 18 to 65 years, researchers ascertained menopausal status of participants and then measured their serum concentration levels of PFCs and estradiol. They found that there was an association between PFC exposure, decreased estradiol and early menopause in women over age 42. There was also an inverse association between PFC levels and estradiol in women of child bearing age but this association was not statistically significant. “There is no doubt that there is an association between exposure to PFCs and onset of menopause, but the causality is unclear,” said Knox. "Part of the explanation could be that women in these age groups have higher PFC levels because they are no longer losing PFCs with menstrual blood anymore, but, it is still clinically disturbing because it would imply that increased PFC exposure is the natural result of menopause.” PFCs are known to have multiple adverse health outcomes including increased cardiovascular risk and impairment of the immune system. “Our findings suggest that PFCs are associated with endocrine disruption in women and that further research on mechanisms is warranted,” said Knox. Other researchers working on the study include: Timothy Jackson, Beth Javins, Stephanie Frisbee, Anoop Shankar and Alan Ducatman of the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown. The article, “Implications of Early Menopause in Women Exposed to Perfluorocarbons,” appears in the June 2011 issue of JCEM. 2. Mother’s Obesity May Lead to Infertility in the Next Generation Levels of the hormone ghrelin are low in obese women and a recent study accepted for publication in Endocrinology, a publication of The Endocrine Society, reports that mice whose mothers had low ghrelin levels were less fertile due to a defect in implantation. Hormones involved in energy balance and metabolism, such as ghrelin, have been shown to regulate reproductive function in animals and humans. However ghrelin’s role in reproductive tract development remains unclear. The current study examined the effect of ghrelin deficiency on the developmental programming of female fertility. “While our study involved mice, we believe our findings have significant implications for women,” said Hugh Taylor, MD, of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. and lead author of the study. “Our results suggest that low ghrelin levels could program the development of the uterus in the female children of obese women. These women may then be less fertile as adults.” In this study, researchers observed that female mice born of mice with ghrelin deficiency had diminished fertility and produced smaller litters than mice born of mice with normal ghrelin levels. Mice exposed to ghrelin deficiency in-utero demonstrated alterations in uterine gene expression which lead to impaired embryo implantation and consequently low fertility. Other researchers working on the study include: J. Ryan Martin, Sarah Lieber, James McGrath, Marya Shanabrough and Tamas Horvath of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. The article, “Maternal Ghrelin Deficiency Compromises Reproduction in Female Progeny through Altered Uterine Developmental Programming,” appears in the April 2011 issue of Endocrinology. 3. News Media Registration Opens for ENDO 2011: The 93rd Annual Meeting & EXPO in Boston, MA Media registration opens today for The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting & EXPO taking place in Boston, MA on June 4-7, 2011. ENDO 2011 promises to be an engaging and informative opportunity for journalists to learn about the latest research in obesity, endocrine disrupters, diabetes, growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid cancer and much more. Held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, more than 7,500 scientists and clinicians from all over the world will assemble for this global and premier meeting of hormone research, health science and endocrinology. For public information officers, ENDO provides a worldwide stage to preview research to reporters through press releases and participation by your scientists in news conferences. News Media Registration Information To register as media for ENDO 2011, please visit http://www.endo-society.org/endo2011/audience/media.cfm. Registered news media receive a badge that provides access to all meeting sessions, as well as the onsite Newsroom and news conferences. No one will be admitted without a valid ENDO badge. Reporter Eligibility
4. Hormone Foundation Fact Sheet Defines Ambiguous Genitalia and Explains Treatment This month The Hormone Foundation published a new bilingual (English and Spanish) fact sheet on ambiguous genitalia. The fact sheet defines the condition and briefly describes how the gonads and genitals typically develop in the fetus. This resource identifies tests that a child with the condition may undergo, and includes a list of factors to be considered in making a sex assignment for the child. Treatment options include hormone therapy and surgery. The fact sheet offers parents resources for additional support and information. The patient fact sheet is online at: http://www.hormone.org/Resources/upload/Ambiguous-Genitalia-Bilingual-WEB.pdf.
# # # Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org. |