How phthalates and metals during pregnancy and perimenopause affect bone health and body composition later in life
Official title: Relating phthalate and metals exposure during pregnancy and perimenopause to bone health and body composition in midlife
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11138598 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how common chemicals like phthalates and metals, encountered during pregnancy and around menopause, might impact women's bone strength and body fat later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $263,539 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES032202-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11138598 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on women who have experienced pregnancy and are in or past perimenopause, as well as those who may have been exposed to phthalates and heavy metals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not in the specified life stages or without relevant chemical exposures may not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
Healthy bones are important not just to prevent fractures, but also for overall health, including how our bodies handle energy and minerals. We know that certain chemicals, called endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are found everywhere, but we don't fully understand how they affect our bones. This research explores how exposure to chemicals like phthalates (found in plastics and personal care products) and some heavy metals during key life stages, such as pregnancy and the time around menopause, might influence bone health and body composition. These life stages involve significant changes in bone and hormones, making them potentially sensitive times for chemical exposure to have an impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to protect bone health and improve body composition by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals during critical life stages.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked phthalate metabolites to lower bone mineral density in post-menopausal women, and some heavy metals are known to affect bone integrity, suggesting a basis for this investigation.
Where this research is happening
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University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Watkins, Deborah J — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Watkins, Deborah J
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Investigating how exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy and perimenopause affects bone health and body composition.
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Investigating how exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy and menopause affects bone health and body composition.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.