Endocrine disruptors, a danger also present in the bowl of dogs and cats

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https://www.lifegate.it/interferenti-endocrini-nascosti-ciotola-pet

Endocrine disruptors are substances that negatively affect the well-being and health of humans and pets.Let's get to know them.
  • They are called endocrine disruptors and are substances capable of influencing many physiological, biochemical and endocrine mechanisms such as reproduction, metabolism and the immune response.
  • Even for our pets these components are basic and must be known and studied in order to modulate patterns of behavior and approach based on well-being and health.

They define themselves interfering endocrines those substances exogenous chemicals (and therefore not natural) or a mixture of components always of a chemical nature capable of interfering with any aspect of hormonal action.The main source of human exposure to endocrine disruptors is food intake.In this case the chemicals will be able to pass directly into the food chain when used as pesticides, for example, or could be released from food packaging containing metals, bisphenol or phthalates.Let's see together what the most important substances of this type are and what their effect is on the health of our four-legged friends with the help of Doctor Chiara Dissegna, veterinary doctor and animal nutrition expert.

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Dogs, like cats, can experience unpleasant consequences from foods contaminated with endocrine disruptors © Pixabay

Pesticides and bisphenol

Among endocrine disruptors there are many pesticides used in agriculture.These substances have been studied specifically for their effects on thyroid, on the reproductive system, on that nervous And adipose.In vitro studies have also shown that several pesticides can cause intestinal dysbiosis and therefore problems at the level ofgastrointestinal system especially in puppies and young animals.

The bisphenol A (bpa), on the other hand, is a chemical substance widely used in industry for the production of polycarbonate plastics and resins, and unfortunately has a known endocrine disrupting activity.Concern about the safety of BPA has led to the imposition of a ban on its use in some products and therefore to the entry into the market of BPA analogues, such as bisphenol S (bps), The bisphenol F (bpf), The bisphenol AF (bpaf), and finally the bisphenol B (bpb).However, their structural similarity to native BPA has raised concerns about their potential interfering ability.In fact, several studies have reported the association of bpa and bpa analogues with an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases like obesity.

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Substances such as pesticides can contaminate fruits and vegetables ©Pixabay

Polychlorinated biphenyls and metals

THE polychlorinated biphenyls (pcb) are known endocrine disruptors massively used until the middle years Seventy as insulators for electrical equipment, such as transformers, switches, capacitors and thermostats.Despite the current production ban, PCBs continue to be a common environmental contaminant.These substances have been related to hormone-dependent tumors, at alterations of the reproductive system and ai cognitive and metabolic disorders.The available evidence has also shown the harmful effects of PCB exposure on the microbiota which can trigger significant metabolic disorders.

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On supermarket shelves, foods can hide unsuspected dangers© Pixabay

Watch out metals, Furthermore, they constitute endocrine disruptors that have the ability to bind to hormone receptors.Metals are chemical elements that can be part of the composition of environmental pollutants.The main sources of human exposure are inhalation of dust or direct ingestion of contaminated food and water.Metal exposure has been linked toobesity, al diabetes and to metabolic syndrome.

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Endocrine disruptors are harmful substances that have been studied for years ©Pixabay

Endocrine disruptors and the microbiome

We have long known that the microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining health and developing disease through several mechanisms.And this also and above all in the case of our four-legged friends.There dysbiosis, defined as the alteration of intestinal microbiome communities, is often related, in fact, to health disorders.

The intestinal microbiome produces a series of biologically active molecules that influence physiological functions, while the host in turn significantly influences the composition and activities of the microbiome.Through the permeable wall of the intestine, endocrine disruptors coming from the circulation enter directly into the intestinal environment or, through interaction with the enteric nervous system, are able to influence the composition and functions of the intestinal microbiome.

The dysbiosis thus created could in turn cause many disorders such as obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal, endocrine, immunological and neurobehavioral diseases.And, unfortunately, the enemy hidden in the pet bowl in these cases becomes increasingly more subtle and aggressive.In any case, scientific research on the subject of endocrine disruptors is a complex and very important reality also and above all with regards to nutritional and dietary developments whose concrete aspects confirm its validity every day.While waiting for new discoveries, however, it is very important, also for pet nutrition, to refer to a short supply chain, devoid of preservatives or additives, as much as possible arising from organic crops and certified.

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