Environmental Chemicals and Their Role in Obesity (ENDORUP)

Endocrine Disrupting Environmental Chemicals: From Accumulation to Their Role in the Global "Neuro-endocrine" Epidemic of Obesity and Its Metabolic Consequences

Hormonal disruption is the inappropriate alteration of the hormonal system by chemical substances that are present in our environment. Some chemical substances are capable of replicating, enhancing or reducing the production, release, transport or action of natural hormones. Therefore, they are called hormonal or endocrine disrupters. Some 'classic' endocrine disrupters such as pesticides and dioxins are considered responsible for infertility, cancer and thyroid problems. Recently, a number of additional chemical substances were stipulated to have endocrine disrupting capabilities. The industrial production of these substances in large quantities has led to an accumulation in our environment and thus possible negative consequences on human health.

The aim of this study is to investigate the rol of these chemical substances in the occurence of overweight and obesity.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Obesity

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 203

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Antwerpen
    • Edegem, Antwerpen, Belgium, 2650
      • University Hospital Antwerp

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals with BMI > 25kg/m² and a normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m²) control population

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult
• Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m²) or obesity (BMI > 30 kg/²)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• psychiatric illness

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Overweight and obese individuals
Normal weight individuals

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls	The following PCB congeners are measured (official IUPAC number is given): CB 28 CB 52 CB 74 CB 95 CB 99 CB 101 CB 105 CB 118 CB 149 CB 146 CB 153 CB 138 CB 187 CB 183 CB 128 CB 167 CB 174 CB 177 CB 171 CB 172 CB 156 CB 180 CB 170 CB 199 CB 196/203 CB 194 CB 206 CB 209	at the moment of entering a weight loss program
Serum levels of hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls	The following hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls are measured 4-HO-CB79 4-HO-CB120 3HO-CB118 4HO-CB107 3HO-CB153 4HO-CB146 4HO-CB127 3HO-CB138 4HO-CB130 4HO-CB163 4HO-CB187 4-HO-CB162 4-HO-CB177 3HO-CB180 4HO-CB172 4HO-CB193 4-diMeO-CB202 4-HO-CB208	at the moment of entering a weight loss program
serum levels of organochlorine pesticides	The following organochlorine pesticides are measured: alfa- hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane Hexachlorobenzen Ocychlordane Transnonachlor p-p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene pp-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane	at the moment of entering a weight loss program
serum levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers	The following polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE) are measured: BDE 28 BDE 47 BDE 100 BDE 99 BDE 154 BDE 153 BDE 183	at the moment of entering a weight loss program
Urinary levels of pollutants	The pollutants detected in urine comprise of bisphenol A, triclosan, phtalates	at the moment of entering a weight loss program
Change in serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls compared to the levels at the start of the weight loss program	The following PCB congeners are measured (official IUPAC number is given): CB 28 CB 52 CB 74 CB 95 CB 99 CB 101 CB 105 CB 118 CB 149 CB 146 CB 153 CB 138 CB 187 CB 183 CB 128 CB 167 CB 174 CB 177 CB 171 CB 172 CB 156 CB 180 CB 170 CB 199 CB 196/203 CB 194 CB 206 CB 209	after 3, 6 and 12 months of weight loss
change in serum levels of hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls compared to the level at the start of the weight loss program	The following hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls are measured 4-HO-CB79 4-HO-CB120 3HO-CB118 4HO-CB107 3HO-CB153 4HO-CB146 4HO-CB127 3HO-CB138 4HO-CB130 4HO-CB163 4HO-CB187 4-HO-CB162 4-HO-CB177 3HO-CB180 4HO-CB172 4HO-CB193 4-diMeO-CB202 4-HO-CB208	after 3,6 and 12 months of weigth loss
Change in serum levels of organochlorine pesticides compared to the level at the start of the weight loss program	The following organochlorine pesticides are measured: alfa- hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane Hexachlorobenzen Ocychlordane Transnonachlor p-p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene pp-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane	after 3,6 and 12 months of weight loss
Change in serum levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers compared to the level at the start of the weight loss program	The following polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE) are measured: BDE 28 BDE 47 BDE 100 BDE 99 BDE 154 BDE 153 BDE 183	After 3,6 and 12 months of weight loss
change in urine levels of pollutants compared to the level at the start of the weight loss program	The pollutants detected in urine comprise of bisphenol A, triclosan, phtalates	after 3,6 and 12 months of weight loss

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Antwerp
• Collaborators: Universiteit Antwerpen
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Philippe Jorens, MD, PhD, University Hospital, Antwerp

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Dirinck EL, Dirtu AC, Govindan M, Covaci A, Jorens PG, Van Gaal LF. Endocrine-disrupting polychlorinated biphenyls in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese subjects before and after weight loss: difference at the start but not at the finish. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Apr;103(4):989-98. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.119081.
• Dirinck E, Dirtu AC, Jorens PG, Malarvannan G, Covaci A, Van Gaal LF. Pivotal Role for the Visceral Fat Compartment in the Release of Persistent Organic Pollutants During Weight Loss. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Dec;100(12):4463-71. doi: 10.1210/jc.2015-2571. Epub 2015 Oct 15.
• Dirinck EL, Dirtu AC, Govindan M, Covaci A, Van Gaal LF, Jorens PG. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants: relationship with abnormal glucose metabolism and visceral adiposity. Diabetes Care. 2014 Jul;37(7):1951-8. doi: 10.2337/dc13-2329.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): March 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): January 29, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 29, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2013
• Last Verified: January 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Overweight; Body Weight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: ENDORUP