Dietary exposure to parabens and body mass index in an adolescent Spanish population

Parabens are alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid which extensively used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs due to their antimicrobial properties. The most commonly parabens methyl-(MeP), ethyl-(EtP), propyl-(PrP) butyl-(BuP) paraben. Most human exposure is achieved through the consumption food or pharmaceutical products use personal care products. However, studies on dietary associated factors very scarce. main aim present study was explore with Spanish adolescents according gender. Dietary data anthropometric measures were collected from 585 (53.4% boys) aged 12–16 years. diet assessed using a frequency questionnaire providing more than 95% energy macronutrient intake being included analysis. Stepwise regression identify foods that contributed intake. Logistic evaluate predicting higher parabens. contributors MeP, EtP, PrP BuP adolescent boys eggs (41.9%), canned tuna (46.4%), bakery baked goods (57.3%) pineapple (61.1%). In girls, apples pears (35.3%), (42.1%), (55.1%) olives (62.1%). Overweight/obese girls likely belong highest tertile overall (odds ratio [OR]: 3.32; confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.21–9.15) MeP (OR: 3.05; CI: 1.14–8.12) those body mass index lower 25 kg/m 2 . These findings suggest positive association between overweight/obesity girls.