Exogenous Factors and Female Reproductive Health

Abstract

Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) and glycotoxins or advanced glycosylated end products (AGEs) have raised one of the most controversial environmental question of recent decades that requires urgent answers, since there is now better appreciation that both AGEs and EDCs exposure from food, depends on methods of food processing packaging and nutrient composition. The Western diet and lifestyle can be a significant environmental source of these toxicants that are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of female reproductive axis deregulation. Acute or prolonged exposure to EDCs and AGEs through different life cycle stages may result in destabilization of the hormonal homeostasis and lead to disruption of reproductive functions. Extensive data from different scientific models, collected in recent years, have confirmed their negative role. Therefore, strategies and strong recommendations should be targeted to reduce human exposure in order to protect current as well as next generations from steadily rising adverse health effects.