PFAS exposure was associated with differences in cholesterol and triglyceride levels among 12-year-old children, according to a study published in Pediatric Research. The results varied by sex and stage of puberty, suggesting that pubertal development may be relevant when studying the metabolic effects of these persistent chemicals.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are used in products such as food packaging, resistant coatings and cleaning agents. Because they break down slowly, they can persist in the environment and the human body. Exposure commonly occurs through food, drinking water, and indoor dust.
Researchers at the Institute for Research in Health, Environment and Work, a joint research unit of Inserm, the EHESP School of Public Health, and the University of Rennes in Rennes, France studied 451 children from the PELAGIE mother-child cohort in Brittany, France. Participants had a median age of 12.8 years, and 86 percent had a body mass index within the normal range.
The researchers measured six PFAS in serum using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Individual compounds were detected in 93 percent to 100 percent of samples, indicating widespread exposure within the cohort.
They also measured total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fructosamine, leptin, and adiponectin. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald equation. Because blood samples were collected without fasting, fructosamine was used to assess recent blood glucose control instead of fasting glucose.
Across the full cohort, higher concentrations of perfluoroundecanoic acid were associated with higher total and LDL cholesterol. No significant associations were found with the other metabolic markers in the overall population.
The researchers then analyzed the results by sex and pubertal stage. Among girls who had not begun menstruation, higher perfluorohexane sulfonate concentrations were associated with higher total and LDL cholesterol. Analysis of the six PFAS as a combined mixture also found associations with both lipid markers in this group.
Among boys in early puberty, perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorodecanoic acid were associated with higher triglyceride levels. Among postpubertal boys, perfluorooctane sulfonate was associated with lower triglycerides. No significant associations were identified among post-menarcheal girls.
Some findings weakened after the researchers adjusted for additional factors, including sleep, physical activity, residential area and passive smoking. However, the associations between perfluorohexane sulfonate and cholesterol in pre-menarcheal girls remained statistically significant.
The findings may help explain why previous studies of PFAS and childhood metabolism have produced inconsistent results. Hormonal and metabolic changes during puberty could influence how PFAS exposure relates to lipid markers. However, the study did not examine disease outcomes or show that the measured cholesterol and triglyceride differences would persist into adulthood.
Because PFAS and metabolic markers were measured at the same time, the researchers could not determine cause and effect. Dividing participants into smaller sex- and puberty-specific groups also limited statistical power. In addition, the cohort had a relatively advantaged socioeconomic profile, which may limit how widely the results apply.
The authors called for longitudinal studies using repeated exposure and metabolic measurements to clarify whether PFAS contribute to changes in cardiometabolic health during adolescence.
Newsletters
Receive the latest analytical science news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.
