Consuming food & drinks from BPA-lined containers linked to high blood pressure says study

Because of their high sodium content, processed foods are known to be bad for our health. Similarly, sodas and fruit juices typically have a very high sugar, which again are not good for our well being. Both sugar and sodium (salt) are associated with heart disease, a major killer in the US. Now, there is another factor to throw in the mix. The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly used in the manufacture of plastic bottles and to line food and beverage cans to prevent the contents from becoming contaminated by the metal container. However, BPA from the lining often leaches from these containers to contaminate the food and drinks stored within.

BPA is an endocrine-disrupter that is known to have many negative impacts on the human body, thus posing a grave risk to human health, including increased risk of infertility, diabetes and cancer. It has recently been associated with increased risk of heart disease too. So even if you are consuming healthy food or drinks, you may be unwittingly consuming this dangerous chemical that can have dire health consequences.

BPA is known to cause a variety of health issues; earlier studies have shown that BPA is linked to infertility and cancer. Now, a study that recently appeared in the journal Hypertension, published by the American Heart Association, has found that consuming food or drinking beverages from plastic bottles or cans lined with BPA can cause high blood pressure, and is thus bad for your heart.

For this latest study, scientists conducted a trial on a sample of 60 adult women aged 60 and over who visited a Korean community center. The trial members visited the center three times, where they were randomly given soy milk either in cans or glass bottles. Two hours later, the women had their blood pressure and heart rates monitored, and urine samples were collected, which were then analyzed to assess BPA concentrations. According to the researchers, soy milk was chosen for the test as it contains no other ingredients that could potentially elevate blood pressure.

BPA concentrations in the urine samples collected rose by as much as 1600% in women who had consumed soy milk in cans compared to consuming soy milk served in glass bottles. Blood pressures also rose after drinking the canned beverages, which according to the authors is concerning, as high blood pressure is associated with heart disease.

"A 5 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure by drinking two canned beverages may cause clinically significant problems, particularly in patients with heart disease or hypertension," said study author, Yun-Chul Hong, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and director of the Environmental Health Center at Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea. "A 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease."

"Thanks to the crossover intervention trial design, we could control most of the potential confounders, such as population characteristics or past medical history," said Hong. "Time variables, such as daily temperatures, however, could still affect the results."

This study highlights the cardiovascular health risks linked to BPA and hopefully will educate decision-makers, health professionals and the general public on the dangers posed by consuming food and beverages from containers lined with BPA.

Hong suggests that consumers choose fresh food products where possible, and that they opt for foods and beverages packaged in glass containers rather than cans or plastic bottles -- both of which typically contain BPA linings -- at least until manufacturers start using BPA-free alternative liners in the containers that they use to package their products.

Water is considered to be a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks, and while this is true, bottled water packaged in plastic bottles may be just as harmful as fizzy drinks in cans. Our solution is simple, choose a good quality water filter to remove any harmful contaminants that may be present in your drinking water (including BPA) and you will have an endless supply of healthy BPA-free water at your disposal. Simply pour and drink, or dispense into a portable BPA-free water bottle to quench your thirst while on the road or out and about. Alternatively, opt for a portable sport bottle filter that will do the job while you are on the go.

Journal Reference:

Sanghyuk Bae & Yun-Chul Hong. Exposure to Bisphenol A From Drinking Canned Beverage Increases Blood Pressure: Randomized Crossover Trial. Hypertension. Dec 2014, doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.04261

Melzer D, Rice NE, Lewis C, Henley WE, Galloway TS (2010) Association of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration with Heart Disease: Evidence from NHANES 2003/06. PLoS ONE 5(1): e8673. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008673

Lang IA, Galloway TS, Scarlett A, Henley WE, Deplege M, Wallace RB, Melzer D. Association of urinary bisphenol A concentration with medical disorders and laboratory abnormalities in adults. JAMA. 2008 Sep 17;300(11):1303-10. doi: 10.1001/jama.300.11.1303. Epub 2008 Sep 16.