The consumption of canned food and beverages and urinary Bisphenol A concentrations in NHANES 2003-2008.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional analysis of national survey data (NHANES).
PubMed 27362993 · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.008
What was done
Analyzed data from 7,669 participants aged 6 years and older from the 2003–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who had 24-hour dietary recall data and urinary Bisphenol A (BPA) measurements. Linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to assess the association between canned food and beverage intake in the prior 24 hours and urinary BPA concentrations.
What was found
In the preceding 24 hours, 9% of participants consumed one canned food and 2% consumed two or more. Consuming one canned food versus none was associated with 24% higher urinary BPA concentrations (95% CI 1.11, 1.38), while two or more was associated with 54% higher concentrations (95% CI 1.27, 1.88). By food category compared to none, consumption was associated with higher urinary BPA for canned soup (+229%, 95% CI 1.22, 4.30), canned pasta (+70%, 95% CI 1.18, 2.44), and canned vegetables and fruits (+41%, 95% CI 1.23, 1.63). Canned beverage consumption was not significantly associated with urinary BPA concentrations.
Why it matters
This study provides representative population-level evidence that specific canned foods—especially canned soups and pasta—are substantial contributors to dietary BPA exposure in the United States.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality. Dietary exposure relied on self-reported 24-hour recalls subject to recall error, and BPA was measured from single spot urine samples despite rapid clearance and within-person temporal variability. Specific can lining materials, brands, and cooking methods were not evaluated.
Cited by
- supports Consuming canned soup has been shown in studies to increase urinary BPA levels by 1,000%.