The mediating function of obesity on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and insulin resistance in children

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To explore the association of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with insulin resistance (IR) in children as well as whether obesity played a mediation role between EDCs and IR. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the data of 878 subjects were included, and divided into the non-IR group (n=501) and IR group (n=377). The associations of EDC and IR, obesity, abdominal obesity were shown by restricted cubic spline (RCS). Univariate and multivariable logistic analysis were applied to explore the associations between EDCs and IR as well as EDCs and obesity, respectively. Bootstrap coefficient product was used to analyze the medication effect of obesity on EDCs and IR. Results RCS showed that increase of benzophenone-3 (BP-3) level was associated with increased risk of IR, obesity and abdominal obesity. After adjusting for confounders, BP-3>100 ng/mL was a risk factor for IR (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.11–1.81). In the adjusted model, we found BP-3>100 ng/mL was a risk factor for both obesity (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.13–2.04) and abdominal obesity (OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.11–2.54). The indirect effect of obesity as a mediator on the relationship between BP-3 and IR was 0.038 (95%CI: 0.016–0.090) and the direct effect of obesity as a mediator on the relationship between BP-3 and IR was 0.077 (95%CI: 0.001–0.160). As for abdominal obesity, the indirect effect of it on the relationship between BP-3 and IR was 0.039 (95%CI: 0.007–0.070). Conclusions BP-3 level might be a risk factor for IR and obesity in children, and obesity was a mediator on the relationship between BP-3 and IR in children.