Association between exposure to organophosphate esters metabolites and sarcopenia prevalence: A cross-sectional study using NHANES data

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are an emerging group of environmental pollutants linked to numerous health concerns, and their increasing prevalence in the environment is alarming. However, the impact of OPEs exposure on sarcopenia, a condition characterized by muscle loss and weakness, remains unknown. In this study, the connection between urinary metabolites of OPEs and the occurrence of sarcopenia was investigated using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) covering a period from 2011 to 2018. The analysis found that two specific urinary metabolites, Dibutyl phosphate (DBUP) and Bis (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP), were positively correlated with an increased risk of sarcopenia. Among these metabolites, DBUP had the highest contribution to sarcopenia development according to weighted quantile sum (WQS) model analysis. Additionally, it was observed that inflammation mediated the relationship between urinary exposure to DBUP/BCEP and the prevalence of sarcopenia. Overall, this research emphasizes the role of OPEs in the progression of sarcopenia, prompting concerns regarding their potential impact on health and advocating for further prospective investigations into their correlation with the risk of developing sarcopenia.