1. Serum persistent organic pollutants and diminished ovarian reserve: a single-exposure and mixture exposure approach from a French case–control study
- Author
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M Génard-Walton, C Warembourg, S Duros, F Mercier, T Lefebvre, A Guivarc’h-Levêque, M -T Le Martelot, B Le Bot, B Jacquemin, C Chevrier, S Cordier, N Costet, L Multigner, R Garlantézec, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail (Irset), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Rennes (UR)-École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP] (EHESP)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Structure Fédérative de Recherche en Biologie et Santé de Rennes ( Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique ), École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP] (EHESP), CHU Pontchaillou [Rennes], Laboratoire d'étude et de recherche en environnement et santé (LERES), Centre hospitalier universitaire de Nantes (CHU Nantes), Clinique mutualiste La Sagesse, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Brest (CHRU Brest), Département des sciences en santé environnementale (DEESSE), Fondation de France [2014-50537, 00110196], and French Biomedicine Agency
- Subjects
ovarian reserve ,Reproductive Medicine ,polychlorinated biphenyls ,female infertility ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Rehabilitation ,environmental exposure ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,persistent organic pollutants ,pesticides - Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) associated with a diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in women of reproductive age? SUMMARY ANSWER Amongst 17 POPs detected in over 20% of serum samples, only p,p′-DDE was significantly associated with an increased risk of DOR, and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) was significantly associated with a decreased risk of DOR whilst mixture analyses yielded non-significant associations and did not detect any interactions between POPs. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Animal studies have shown that several POPs can alter folliculogenesis and increase follicle depletion. However, only a few studies have been conducted in humans, with small sample sizes and inconsistent results. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Our study included 138 cases and 151 controls from the AROPE case–control study. Study participants were women between 18 and 40 years of age recruited amongst couples consulting for infertility in four fertility centres in western France between 2016 and 2020. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Cases of DOR were defined as women with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels ≤1.1 ng/ml and/or antral follicle count (AFC) MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the 43 POPs, 17 were detected in over 20% of the serum samples. In the single-exposure multivariate logistic regressions, p,p′-DDE (median 165.0 IQR 161.0 ng/l in controls) as a continuous exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of DOR (odds ratio (OR) 1.39, 95% CI 1.10–1.77) and non-significantly associated with an increased risk of DOR for the second and third terciles (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.74–2.87, and OR 1.72, 95% CI 0.88–3.37, respectively). β-HCH (median 24.2 IQR 21.5 ng/l in controls) was significantly associated with a decreased risk of DOR when β-HCH was treated as a continuous exposure (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44–0.89) and for the third tercile of exposure (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21–0.84) and non-significantly associated with a decreased risk of DOR for the second tercile (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.42–1.42). All sensitivity analyses confirmed our results. BKMR showed similar associations for single exposures but found no significant associations for the total mixture effect. In addition, the BKMR results did not suggest any interactions between POPs. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Controls were recruited amongst infertile couples and thus may not be representative of all women of reproductive age. However, their POP concentrations were in the same range as in the general French population. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study is the first to examine the associations between serum POPs and DOR. The well-recognized anti-androgenic properties of p,p′-DDE and estrogenic properties of β-HCH could explain these associations of opposite direction. If these results are replicated elsewhere, this could have an impact on fertility prevention messages and help in understanding the impact of POPs on the female reproductive system. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the Fondation de France (grant numbers 2014-50537 and 00110196) and the French Biomedicine Agency (2016). None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
- Published
- 2023