Finding is latest to raise health concerns about the common estrogen-like chemical
WebMD News from HealthDay
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Eating food from cans lined with the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) could raise your blood pressure, a new study suggests.
BPA previously has been linked to a variety of ills, including heart problems, developmental problems in children and high blood pressure. The chemical is widely used in products ranging from plastic bottles and food containers to dental fillings and cash register receipts. In cans, BPA is used as a lining, the researchers said.
"We found that drinking two canned beverages increased systolic blood pressure by 5 mm Hg," said lead researcher Dr. Yun-Chul Hong, director of the Environmental Health Center at Seoul National University College of Medicine in Korea.
Putting that in perspective, he said a 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure doubles the risk for heart disease. The systolic blood pressure number is always the first of two numbers given in a blood pressure reading.
"Because these results confirm findings from other studies, doctors and patients, particularly those with high blood pressure or heart disease, should be aware of the possible risks from increased blood pressure when consuming canned foods or beverages," he said.
Previous research has shown that BPA in containers can leach into food and beverages.
Since BPA acts like the hormone estrogen, Hong thinks it raises blood pressure as it interacts with cells in the heart and blood vessels that are sensitive to estrogen.
For the study, Hong's team had 60 men and women, aged 60 and up, drink soy milk from either cans or glass bottles on three occasions. The researchers assessed participants' blood pressure and heart rate two hours after drinking the soy milk and also tested their urine for BPA.
Urine tests showed a 1,600 percent increase in BPA among those who drank from cans, compared with those who drank from glass bottles. Soy milk was chosen for the test because it has no known ingredient that elevates blood pressure, the researchers said.
The report was published online Dec. 8 in the journal Hypertension.
source : BPA in Canned Goods May Raise Your Blood Pressure: Study
