# Relating phthalate and metals exposure during pregnancy and perimenopause to bone health and body composition in midlife

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $329,293

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Healthy bone is critical for long term health not only to minimize fracture risk, but as an active endocrine organ
with influence on energy homeostasis, mineral metabolism, and body composition. Significant public health
consequences of poor bone health include increased risk of fracture-related morbidity and mortality, insulin
resistance, and cardiovascular disease. However, the potential for ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemicals
to affect bone health is unknown. Phthalates, chemicals used in plastics and personal care products, have
been associated with biological pathways that may affect bone health, including disruption of hormones
essential to bone homeostasis and activation of PPARg, directing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells
from osteoblasts to adipocytes. Recently, urinary phthalate metabolites were cross-sectionally associated with
lower bone mineral density (BMD) and higher osteoporosis risk in post-menopausal women in NHANES, but
the effects of exposure at different life stages or on bone metabolic function have not been explored. Some
heavy metals have also been associated with decreased BMD and increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture.
For example, lead accumulates in the bone matrix, compromising bone integrity. Pregnancy and
perimenopause are life stages potentially sensitive to exposure related changes in bone health, as they are
characterized by intense bone remodeling and changes in metabolic and hormone homeostasis. Therefore,
our goal is to investigate relationships of phthalate and metals exposure across pregnancy and perimenopause
with measures of bone health in midlife. The proposed research leverages the Early Life Exposures in Mexico
to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) birth cohort, as participating mothers, who are now 40-65 years of
age, provided extensive demographic, anthropometric, and health information, and repeated phthalate and
metal exposure measures, during pregnancy. In this study, participants will provide information on phthalate
and metal exposure, bone structure, bone metabolism, and body composition at a perimenopausal follow-up
visit (n=400). BMI and menopausal status will be explored as potential effect modifiers, and phthalate
metabolites and metals will be considered individually and as mixtures. Our aims are to investigate 1)
associations of BMI during pregnancy and BMI trajectory through pregnancy and perinatal periods with BMD,
skeletal muscle index, and gynoid and android adipose tissue distribution assessed using dual energy x-ray
absorptiometry (iDXA), and bone microstructure assessed by quantitative ultrasound, in midlife; 2) associations
of phthalate and metals exposure during pregnancy and perimenopause with bone microstructure, BMD, and
muscle and adipose tissue distribution; 3) associations of phthalate and metals exposure during pregnancy
and perimenopause with biomarkers of bone metabolism in midlife. Findings from this work will provide insight
into mecha...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10445288
- **Project number:** 5R01ES032202-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $329,293
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-10 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10445288

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10445288, Relating phthalate and metals exposure during pregnancy and perimenopause to bone health and body composition in midlife (5R01ES032202-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10445288. Licensed CC0.

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