Prenatal parabens exposure linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes in mothers with depressive symptoms in Ningxia, China.
Photo by Gabriel Tovar / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Note association between prenatal parabens and adverse outcomes in mothers with depressive symptoms.
This prospective cohort study enrolled 934 mother-infant pairs in Ningxia, China, to evaluate the relationship between prenatal parabens exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The analysis specifically focused on women reporting depressive symptoms as a key stratification variable.
Among women with depressive symptoms, exposure to propylparaben (PrP) was significantly associated with fetal distress, with an odds ratio of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.05–1.49). Mixed parabens exposure was linked to an increased risk of macrosomia, yielding an odds ratio of 1.62 (95% CI: 1.06–2.48). Additionally, PrP exposure among women with depressive symptoms was associated with overall adverse pregnancy outcomes, with an odds ratio of 1.21 (95% CI: 1.03–1.41).
Exposure to ethylparaben (EtP) was linked to small vulnerable newborns in this subgroup, with an odds ratio of 1.20 (95% CI: 1.04–1.38). No significant associations were observed for adverse pregnancy outcomes in the broader analysis without this specific stratification.
The study notes that combined effects of parabens remain poorly understood. These results underscore the importance of integrating environmental and mental health considerations into prenatal care, though the observational design limits causal inference.
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View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundParabens (PBs) are common endocrine-disrupting preservatives linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, while prenatal depressive symptoms are also prevalent and harmful. Their combined effects remain poorly understood.ObjectiveTo examine individual and joint associations of prenatal PBs exposure with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) and to assess modification by maternal depressive symptoms.MethodsA prospective cohort of 934 mother-infant pairs from Ningxia, China, was analyzed. Maternal serum concentrations of five PBs were measured by HPLC-MS/MS. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. APOs included small vulnerable newborns, macrosomia, fetal distress, and asphyxia. Logistic regression and quantile g-computation were used, with stratified and interaction analyses.ResultsIn the overall cohort, propylparaben (PrP) was significantly associated with fetal distress (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.05–1.49), while mixed PBs exposure increased the risk of macrosomia (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.06–2.48). Quantile g-computation revealed that ethylparaben (EtP), PrP, and heptylparaben (HeP) were the primary contributors to the mixture effect on macrosomia. Maternal depressive symptoms significantly modified these associations: among women with depressive symptoms (n = 418), PrP was associated with overall APOs (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.03–1.41), and EtP was linked to small vulnerable newborns (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.38). In contrast, no significant associations were observed in women without significant depressive symptoms. Interaction analyses confirmed significant effect modification by depressive symptoms for PrP (P-int = 0.049) and EtP (P-int = 0.024).ConclusionPrenatal PBs exposure is associated with increased APOs risk, particularly among women with depressive symptoms, underscoring the importance of integrating environmental and mental health considerations into prenatal care.
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