A chemical used in BPA-free products may have a connection to diabetes control

Researchers investigated the relationship between exposure to bisphenol chemicals, specifically bisphenol A (BPA) and its substitute bisphenol S (BPS), and glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study cohort included 307 participants with T2D who were on oral antihyperglycemic medication. Findings indicated that higher plasma BPS concentrations were positively associated with higher glycated hemoglobin ($\text{HbA1c}$) levels in unadjusted analyses and in a model accounting for various factors. BPA concentrations showed no association with $\text{HbA1c}$. While the authors suggested reducing BPS exposure might complement diet and medication, the observational study did not test if this reduction improves glycemic control.
The study evaluated four components: medication adherence tracked via electronic monitors, dietary habits measured by a survey, physical fitness using a six-minute walk test, and fasting plasma concentrations of BPA and BPS. The secondary analysis found that after adjusting for age, sex, race, medication adherence, diet, BMI, and physical fitness, the association between BPS and $\text{HbA1c}$ was no longer statistically significant. Furthermore, better medication adherence and healthier dietary behaviors were associated with lower $\text{HbA1c}$. Biochemical assays showed that BPA correlated with triglyceride levels, while BPS correlated with $\text{HbA1c}$, but BPA did not correlate with $\text{HbA1c}$.

* The study cohort comprised 307 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) prescribed oral antihyperglycemic medication.
* Plasma bisphenol S ($\text{BPS}$) concentrations were positively associated with higher $\text{HbA1c}$ levels in unadjusted and adjusted analyses.
* Plasma bisphenol A ($\text{BPA}$) concentrations were not associated with $\text{HbA1c}$.
* Higher medication adherence was associated with lower $\text{HbA1c}$ when other factors were controlled.
* $\text{BPA}$ correlated with circulating triglyceride levels in plasma.
* $\text{BPS}$ correlated with $\text{HbA1c}$ in biochemical assays.
* Self-reported dietary measures, including the Connor survey, did not effectively estimate $\text{BPA}$ or $\text{BPS}$ exposure.
* No tested dietary category was associated with plasma $\text{BPS}$.
* The association between $\text{BPS}$ and $\text{HbA1c}$ was not statistically significant when BPA, BMI, and physical fitness were included in the model.