A recently completed study in the U.S has tied type 2 diabetes in women to personal care products that are commonly used such as nail polish, moisturizer, hair spray, perfume and soap. Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers led the study that shows a tie between the increased amount of phthalates in a person’s body and more of a risk of contracting type 2 diabetes.
Phthalate are chemicals that disrupt the endocrine and are commonly found in personal care products. They can also be found in electronics, adhesives, plastic wrappers, toys, building materials and medical equipment.
Urine samples of over 2,350 women across the U.S. were examined. The results indicated that participants, whose phthalates were high in their urine, were close to twice as apt to suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Researchers also found in women with the higher levels of the mono-benzyl phthalate and the mono-isobutyl phthalate are twice as apt to contract diabetes. Women with a moderately high level of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalates were 70% more apt to develop diabetes.
However, researchers were quick to caution that participants in the study had self-reported diabetes. In addition, while a potential connection was found in the study between diabetes and phthalates, there was no cause and effect proved.
The researchers did say the study was an important beginning in doing more exploring over the link between diabetes and phthalates. Overall there is more research that must be done on this the researchers said as phthalates are found in many medical devices that could be used in treating diabetes and could explain why there is a high level of these types of phthalates in women who are diabetic.
