Urinary phthalate metabolites are associated with insulin resistance in obese subjects

Phthalates are potentially involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a cohort of 123 obese subjects, 10 phthalate metabolites were analyzed. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed and various estimates of insulin resistance and beta-cell function were calculated. After adjustment for age, physical activity level, smoking behavior, medication use and body mass index, several phthalate metabolites were linked to markers of glucose tolerance and insulin resistance.