Medications as a source of paraben exposure

Abstract

Background: Parabens are used as antimicrobial excipients in some pharmaceuticals. Parabens may adversely affect reproduction.

Objectives: Determine whether paraben-containing medication contributes to high urinary paraben concentrations.

Methods: Individuals at a fertility clinic provided multiple urine samples during evaluation/treatment and reported 24-h use of medications and personal care products (PCP). Repeated measures models compared specific gravity-adjusted urinary methyl, propyl, and butyl paraben concentrations between samples "exposed" and "unexposed" to paraben-containing medication.

Results: Eleven participants contributed 12 exposed and 45 unexposed samples, among which paraben concentrations did not differ. Use within 7h was associated with 8.7-fold and 7.5-fold increases in mean methyl (P=0.11) and propyl (P=0.10) paraben concentrations, respectively, after adjusting for PCP use. However, these associations decreased to 1.3-fold (P=0.76) and 2.6-fold (P=0.34), respectively, after removal of one influential individual.

Conclusion: Paraben-containing medications contributed to higher urinary paraben concentrations within hours of use.

Keywords: Assisted Reproductive Technologies; Endocrine system; Parabens; Pharmaceuticals.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors have no competing interests.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Flow-chart of study population *The revised questionnaire was implemented in 2010 and included detailed questions regarding medication use

Figure 2

Median urinary paraben levels in exposed and unexposed samples