Plasma concentration of organochlorine compounds is associated with age and not obesity

It has been suggested that obese individuals, because of an increased dilution space (body fat) for lipophilic organochlorines compounds, may have greater levels of toxic pollutants than lean sedentary individuals. It is important to further examine this possibility because of the potential contribution of organochlorine pesticides in the development of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological diseases. The aim of this study was to further investigate the relationship between the magnitude of obesity and the plasma concentration of organochlorines for a wide range of BMI (with participants at steady state body weight). Fifty-three individuals were selected on the basis of their body mass index (BMI): lean controls (n = 16; mean BMI 22.8 ± 2.2 kg/m2; mean age 38.8 ± 9.4 years), obese individuals (n = 19; mean BMI 33.4 ± 3.0 kg/m2; mean age 38.6 ± 7.6 years) and morbidly obese individuals (n = 18; mean BMI 49.3 ± 6.5 kg/m2; mean age 44.3 ± 9.2 years). Blood samples were analyzed for organochlorine compounds. The relationship between the total plasma organochlorine concentration and BMI was tested using a multiple regression analysis. Age was included in the model. There was no relationship between the total plasma organochlorine concentration and BMI. Organochlorine concentrations, however, were correlated with age (BMI-adjusted R2 = 0.46; p < 0.001). At steady state body weight, toxic pollutant concentrations are not associated to obesity but strongly correlate with age.