Philip J. Goscienski, M.D.
December 2008
Physicians, chemists, consumer advocates and government agencies are in a state of confusion about recent research studies that link a common chemical that is widely used in plastic drink containers, including baby bottles, to serious medical problems.
In September 2008 researchers reported on more than 1400 U.S. adults who submitted urine and blood samples for the measurement of bisphenol A (BPA). They determined that the 25 percent of persons with the highest levels of BPA in their bodies were more than twice as likely to have heart disease, diabetes or both than persons who had the lowest level of the chemical.
Previous studies in animals had suggested that BPA was toxic. Researchers found that in rodents the chemical interfered with normal activity of the female breast and male prostate and it hastened the development of diabetes. Until the recent report there was no evidence that it could be harmful to humans.
It's hard to avoid BPA in a typical human diet. It is used in the manufacture of baby bottles and the cans used for the commercial preservation of food and beverages. About 90 percent of us have some BPA in our body but government agencies have declared that the levels are too low to be harmful.
If there is a connection between BPA, heart disease and type 2 diabetes perhaps it's not a direct link. Young children hardly ever drink plain water but starting at an early age almost all kids drink fruit juice, fruit drinks and soda every day. Adolescent boys drink an average of more than two cans per day. Adults are not far behind.
Nutritionists point to the parallel rising curves of obesity and the consumption of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), the main sweetener in soft drinks, since the early 1970's. Type 2 diabetes has also risen dramatically since then, especially among children.
Scientists note that BPA has a toxic effect on those cells within the pancreas that produce insulin, hastening the development of type 2 diabetes.
Obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes tend to occur in the same persons and each of those diseases is incredibly complex. However, even if BPA is implicated in the last two we can take steps now to limit its impact and that of sugar as well.
The first step is to sharply reduce our intake of soft drinks, especially for children. Whole fruit is always a better choice than fruit juice, and for Mom's benefit, there is nothing to spill.
For persons concerned about plastic water bottles (not all contain BPA) there are several companies that manufacture stainless steel drink containers. Tap or even filtered water is cheap and it will more than make up for the initial cost of steel bottles. Some of those 16-ounce bottles of drinking water are more expensive, per gallon, than gasoline.
The infant formula problem is another issue. Most baby bottle manufacturers have removed BPA from their products or are in the process of doing so.
Bisphenol A may not be the danger that some groups fear but it makes sense to avoid it and to simultaneously remove other factors, soft drinks and sweets, that lead to heart disease and diabetes.
Philip J. Goscienski, M.D. is the author of Health Secrets of the Stone Age, Better Life Publishers 2005. Contact him at drphil@stoneagedoc.com.