Effect of bisphenol a on the intestinal barrier: evidences from animal studies

Abstract

Objective: Bisphenol A (BPA), a xenoestrogen chemical compound has wide range of harmful effects in the body. It is not clear whether BPA induced harmful effects in the body occurs through disrupting the intestinal barrier (IB). Objective of this review is to provide an up to date information about the effect of BPA on the IB. Materials and Methods: Literatures were searched in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using the key words 'BPA' paired with 'intestinal barrier', 'intestinal barrier function', 'gut barrier function', 'gut' and 'intestinal permeability' from the year 1980 till early March 2018. Results: Only six animal studies were found. BPA was found to increase intestinal permeability, an indicator of compromised IB in one study. But it dose-dependently decreased intestinal permeability in ovariectomized animals. BPA has been reported to alter gut microbiota in five studies. Altered gut microbiota is proposed to be an important factor contributing to compromised IB. Conclusion: The effect of BPA on the IB varies on the species, gender, presence or absence of endogenous estrogen and maturity of the gut. However, five out of six studies are in agreement that BPA altered intestinal microbial flora.