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Journal article
Randomised controlled trial of a low plastic diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial – a protocol
BMJ open, Vol.15(8), e099330
2025
PMID: 40854835
Abstract
Introduction Phthalates and bisphenols, chemicals commonly used in the production of plastic products, exhibit endocrine disrupting properties linked to obesity and systemic inflammation. Given the ubiquitous use of plastic chemicals, their adverse impact on human health is of great importance. In this protocol, we describe a randomised controlled trial aimed at testing whether minimising exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals (PACs) in community-dwelling adults with cardiometabolic risk factors can reduce urinary excretion of PACs and improve cardiometabolic health.
Methods and analysis The study will recruit (n=60) community-dwelling adults (18–60 years) with cardiometabolic risk factors, characterised by a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 and waist circumference of ≥88 cm in women and ≥102 cm in men. Participants will be randomised to a control (n=30) or an intervention group (n=30) receiving a 4-week diet and lifestyle modification designed to reduce plastic exposure, which includes the replacement of all food, kitchen utensils and equipment, personal care and cleaning products. The primary outcome is a reduction in urinary excretion of bisphenols after the 4-week intervention compared with the control arm. The secondary outcomes are the reduction in urinary excretion of low and high molecular weight phthalates. Finally, tertiary outcomes investigate improvements to cardiometabolic biomarkers, body composition, waist circumference and blood pressure. Participants will self-collect urine, stool and nasal lavage samples a day before beginning the intervention and at the end of each week. Fasting blood samples and health assessments will be collected during clinic visits: at baseline, mid-point and a day after the intervention period. Urinary PAC excretion and cardiometabolic health outcomes will be compared between the intervention and control groups.
Ethics and dissemination The PERTH Trial has ethics approval from the University of Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee; 2021-ET001118. Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.
Trial registration number NCT06571994.
Details
- Title
- Randomised controlled trial of a low plastic diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial – a protocol
- Authors/Creators
- Andrew Lucas - The University of Western AustraliaAmelia Harray - The University of Western AustraliaLelinh Duong - The University of Western AustraliaSusan Herrmann - The University of Western AustraliaPhilip Vlaskovsky - The University of Western AustraliaMichelle Trevenen - The University of Western AustraliaDick Chan - The University of Western AustraliaHannah Papendorf - The University of Western AustraliaTony Smith - The University of Western AustraliaLilith Flint - The University of MelbourneAlex Liu - The University of Western AustraliaSilvana Gaudieri - The University of Western AustraliaXianyu Wang - The University of QueenslandJochen F Mueller - The University of QueenslandKevin V Thomas - The University of QueenslandKevin Murray - The University of Western AustraliaChristos Symeonides - Walk Free FoundationSarah Dunlop - Minderoo FoundationGerald Watts - The University of Western AustraliaMichaela Lucas - Department of Immunology, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Publication Details
- BMJ open, Vol.15(8), e099330
- Publisher
- British Medical Journal Publishing Group
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- CLB-1458 / Minderoo Foundation (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100016056)
- Identifiers
- 991005807942907891
- Copyright
- © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning
- 3.60.1654 Phthalates
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine