BHA and a hormone-regulating enzyme in rat and human tissue
What it found
In lab tests on rat and human tissue, BHA strongly blocked the enzyme HSD11B2 but had little effect on the related enzyme HSD11B1.
The authors say this could lead to too much active glucocorticoid in local tissues.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Strong block of HSD11B2
BHA strongly blocked HSD11B2 in both rat and human tissue. The concentration needed to block half the enzyme was 13.99 µmol/l for rat and 69.25 µmol/l for human.
Little effect on HSD11B1
BHA had a much weaker effect on HSD11B1 in both rat and human tissue. A concentration of 100 μmol/l caused no inhibition of this enzyme.
How BHA blocks the enzyme
When a steroid substrate was used, BHA blocked HSD11B2 competitively. When the cofactor NAD+ was used, it acted as a mixed inhibitor.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, we observed that BHA is a selective inhibitor of HSD11B2, implying that this agent may cause excessive glucocorticoid action in local tissues such as kidney and placentas.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that BHA is a selective inhibitor of HSD11B2.
- They say this means BHA may cause excessive glucocorticoid action in local tissues such as kidney and placentas.
How it was done
HSD11B1 and HSD11B2 control the local level of active glucocorticoid, a hormone with a wide range of effects in the body. The authors wanted to see whether BHA affects these two enzymes.
They tested how well BHA blocks HSD11B1 and HSD11B2 in rat and human tissues. They also checked how BHA interferes with the enzyme when a steroid substrate or the cofactor NAD+ was used.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on rat and human tissue, not studies in living people. They cannot show what happens when someone eats BHA.
- The tests used cells and enzymes outside the body, so they cannot show whether BHA affects glucocorticoid levels in a person.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, PR China
The paper
- Title
- Butylated Hydroxyanisole Potently Inhibits Rat and Human 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Li L, Wu Y, Wu X, et al (2016). Butylated Hydroxyanisole Potently Inhibits Rat and Human 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2. Pharmacology. doi:10.1159/000441034PubMed 26565409DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error