Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
BackgroundExposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been associated with changes in body mass index and adiposity, but evidence is inconsistent as study design, population age, follow-up periods and exposure levels vary between studies. We investigated associations between PFAS exposure and body fat in a cross-sectional study of healthy boys.MethodsIn 109 boys (10–14 years old), magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed to evaluate abdominal, visceral fat, total body, android, gynoid, android/gynoid ratio, and total fat percentage standard deviation score. Serum was analysed for perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorodecanoic acid using liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Data were analysed by multivariate linear regression.ResultsSerum concentrations of PFASs were low. Generally, no clear associations between PFAS exposure and body fat measures were found; however, PFOS was negatively associated with abdominal fat (β = -0.18, P = 0.046), android fat (β = -0.34, P = 0.022), android/gynoid ratio (β = -0.21, P = 0.004), as well as total body fat (β = -0.21, P = 0.079) when adjusting for Tanner stage.ConclusionsOverall, we found no consistent associations between PFAS exposure and body fat. This could be due to our cross-sectional study design. Furthermore, we assessed PFAS exposure in adolescence and not in utero, which is considered a more vulnerable time window of exposure.
Highlights
Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been associated with changes in body mass index and adiposity, but evidence is inconsistent as study design, population age, follow-up periods and exposure levels vary between studies
We studied the associations between PFAS serum concentrations and abdominal and visceral fat percentage evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as total body fat percentage, total fat percentage standard deviation score (SDS), android versus gynoid fat and android/gynoid ratio as evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and MRI in 109 healthy 10- to 14-year-old boys
Most PFASs were moderately to highly correlated (r: 0.50–0.84, P < 0.01), but weak correlations were found between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) (r = 0.36, P < 0.01), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and PFOA (r = 0.29, P < 0.01), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (r = 0.34, P < 0.01) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (r = 0.22, P < 0.05) (Supplementary Table 1)
Summary
Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been associated with changes in body mass index and adiposity, but evidence is inconsistent as study design, population age, follow-up periods and exposure levels vary between studies. We investigated associations between PFAS exposure and body fat in a cross-sectional study of healthy boys. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are both hydrophobic and lipophobic chemicals commonly used as surface treatment and lubricants [1]. Humans are mainly exposed to PFASs through ingestion of fish, water or food contaminated by grease-proof packaging, and through consumer products such as impregnated clothes and furniture [2,3,4]. Thomsen et al Environ Health (2021) 20:73 are important contributors to human PFAS exposure [5]. PFASs are commonly used and detected in almost all human matrices [1, 7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
