Last Updated on May 29, 2015 by Patricia Carter

There has been a lot of recent discussion about BPA, especially as it affects infants.  Now we see for the first time, that low dose BPA perinatal exposure is associated with food intolerance, specifically the egg white protein, at least for rats.  Remember the alternative, BPS, is even less studied and some say it is worse than BPA.

This January 2014 study, showed that BPA is in both breast milk and newborn and infant urines regardless if breastfed or formula fed. “RESULTS:  Total BPA was detected in 93 % of urine samples in this healthy infant population aged 3-15 months who were without known environmental exposure to BPA . Similarly, 75 % of the mothers’ breast milk samples had detectable concentrations of total BPA.”

Well, this study, is now the first to show (in an animal rat study) that daily oral environmental exposure of low dose BPA (below that considered safe by the FDA) during perinatal exposure with lactation is linked to offspring food intolerance, specifically the tested protein was ovalbumin (a protein contained within egg whites):

Slide source: biomeonboardawareness.com

Slide source: biomeonboardawareness.com

You can read the study here,  “Food intolerance at adulthood after perinatal exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A [at a dose below that currently defined as safe by FDA],” November 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal.  And you can read  this “Medical News Today” article, “Infants exposed to BPA may be at increased risk of food intolerance in later life,”  which notes:

“We may look back one day and see BPA exposure as one of the more important public health problems of our time,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. “We know that too much exposure is bad, but exactly how much exposure is too much is still up for debate.”

“According to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics used in some food and drink packaging, impact-resistant safety equipment, and medical devices. Epoxy resins containing BPA are also used as lacquers to coat metal in items, such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some dental sealants and composites may also contribute to BPA exposure. Most exposure occurs when BPA leaches into food from the protective internal epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles, and baby bottles. The degree to which BPA leaches from polycarbonate bottles into liquid may depend more on the temperature of the liquid or bottle, than the age of the container. BPA has also been found in breast milk.”

The authors consider that this study provides strong rationale for preventive management of immune disorders, such as food intolerance, rather than therapeutic issues,

This is the first study showing a link between perinatal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) at low doses (significantly below the current human safety limit set by the FDA) and the risk to develop food intolerance in later life. “This new scientific data may help decisions by public health authorities on the need of a significant reduction in the level of exposure to BPA in pregnant and breastfeeding women, to limit the risk for their children of adverse food reactions later in life.”

The study:  Perinatal exposure of low dose BPA affects developing immune systems, predisposing rat offspring to food intolerance in adulthood. Control group and a second test group (this group receiving daily oral BPA at a dose of 5 µg/kg of body weight/day,from gestational day 15 to day 21 of lactation, when pups were weaned, then kept untouched until day 45.

Female rat offspring then were tested with feeding a new food protein, ovalbumin, which induced an exacerbated immune response toward ovalbumin. that was not observed in control group. Upon repeat ovalbumin exposure, colonic inflammation suggestive of food intolerance was observed for BPA exposed rats.

THE FOOD TESTED WAS A PROTEIN IN EGG WHITES

Ovalbumin is a glycoprotein comprising 54% of the total proteins in egg white. It consists of 385 amino acids and has four cystein residues. It is unique in that the signal seq is in the middle of the polypeptide chain and it has a sequence homology with a group of proteinase inhibitors called serpins. Ovalbumin differs from the group in that it doesn’t undergo a conformational change upon proteolytic cleavage rather the serpins are converted from the stressed to relaxed conformation, and each conformation exhibits different heat stabilities.

Recommended Further Reading For Anyone Concerned With the Unborn Health:

This post, “NEWBORN GUT MICROBIOME BEGINS DURING BIRTH,” is an important read for impact to newborn microbiome where 80 to 85 percent of immunity resides; additionally it discusses recent findings that dads are not off the hook regarding paternal exposures which matter and are being passed onto offspring.

For preconception women, gyno and obstetricians are now being told to discuss pre-natal toxin loads and the effects on fetal neurodevelopment as discussed in this incredibly important recent Lancet Neurology article which is a must read for anyone needing this information or those of conception age:  Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity,    Lancet Neurology, Abstract, March 2014 or for the pdf file, see: “Neurobehavioural Effects of Developmental Toxicity”  pdf, March 2014.

EWG’s Dirty Dozen List of Endocrine Disruptors,” is another necessary read as EWG discusses:  BPA, Dioxin, Atrazine, Phthalates, Perchlorate, Fire Retardants, Lead, Arsenic, Mrcury, Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs), Organophosphate pesticides, and Glycol Ethers.

Also check out my post, “Total Body Burden and Detox,” for much insight into the cumulative effects of multiple toxin exposures which most of us in reality have although there has not been cumulative type of toxin studies performed to date  (see below slide).  This post includes a great “Punch List” of recommendations to lighten this load that came out of the “Detox Summit” hosted by Deanna Minich.  In fact, Point 5 recommends ditching BPA and other home toxins (see below).

Perhaps in the end, eating as clean of a whole foods diet as possible with focus on micronutrient sufficiency (check with your health care professional) and nutrient density, and ridding oneself of as many toxin exposures as possible, along with sufficient sleep, sun, stress management (the Whole Health Pillars)… is likely the best one can do to optimize the unborn health.

In health through awareness,