Objective:

To examine associations between PFAS exposure and metabolic markers in children, including whether associations differed by sex and pubertal stage.

Approach:

• Participants: Researchers studied 451 children from the PELAGIE mother-child cohort in Brittany, France; median age was 12.8 years.
• Measurements: Six PFAS were measured in serum, alongside cholesterol, triglycerides, fructosamine, leptin, and adiponectin. LDL cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald equation.
• Analysis: Associations were assessed in the full cohort and by sex and pubertal stage.

Key Findings:

• Individual PFAS were detected in 93% to 100% of samples.
• In the full cohort, higher perfluoroundecanoic acid concentrations were associated with higher total and LDL cholesterol; no significant overall associations were found for other metabolic markers.
• Among pre-menarcheal girls, perfluorohexane sulfonate and the combined PFAS mixture were associated with higher total and LDL cholesterol. The perfluorohexane sulfonate associations remained statistically significant after additional adjustment.
• Among boys in early puberty, perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorodecanoic acid were associated with higher triglycerides. Among postpubertal boys, perfluorooctane sulfonate was associated with lower triglycerides.
• No significant associations were identified among post-menarcheal girls.

Interpretation:

Associations between PFAS and lipid markers varied by sex and pubertal stage. The study did not establish cause and effect or determine whether the measured lipid differences persist into adulthood.

Limitations:

• PFAS and metabolic markers were measured at the same time, preventing determination of cause and effect.
• Smaller sex- and puberty-specific groups limited statistical power.
• The cohort's relatively advantaged socioeconomic profile may limit generalizability.
• The study did not examine disease outcomes or whether lipid differences persisted into adulthood.

Conclusion:

The authors called for longitudinal studies with repeated exposure and metabolic measurements to clarify whether PFAS contribute to cardiometabolic changes during adolescence.

Sources:

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