PFAS and Altered Glucose Homeostasis in Adolescents following Bariatric Surgery
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) appears to attenuate the improvements in fasting glucose and HbA1c expected after bariatric surgery in adolescents. For many people, bariatric surgery is very effective in treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic conditions, but not all individuals experience the same level of improvement. Environmental contaminants, like PFAS, may be responsible for some of this variability.
Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in adolescents and young adults: modifying roles of age, lifestyle factors, and PNPLA3 genotype
This study looked at whether exposure to PFAS chemicals is linked to the risk of developing fatty liver disease (also called Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, or MASLD), and whether factors like age, lifestyle, or genetics change that risk. We found that in teenagers, higher levels of a PFAS chemical called PFOA in the blood were linked to a greater chance of having MASLD. This link became stronger as teens got older and was even higher among those who carried a genetic risk variant (PNPLA3). Overall, these results suggest that PFAS exposure may raise the risk of fatty liver disease in young people, especially for those who have certain genetic traits, or smoke.
PFAS Exposure and Postoperative Weight Regain in Adolescents After Bariatric Surgery: Findings From the Teen-LABS Study
A new study from researchers at the University of Southern California and collaborating institutions has found that exposure to widely used industrial chemicals—called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—may contribute to weight regain in teenagers who undergo bariatric surgery. The study followed 186 adolescents over five years after surgery and found that those with higher blood levels of certain PFAS, especially sulfonic acids like PFOS and PFHxS, were more likely to regain weight, lose less overall body weight, and see increases in waist size.
Ultra-processed food intake is associated with altered glucose homeostasis in young adults with a history of overweight or obesity: a longitudinal study
Greater consumption of ultra-processed foods in young adults is linked to a higher risk of developing early markers of prediabetes and insulin resistance. The research suggests that replacing processed foods with whole, nutrient-dense options during youth could help reduce the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Mediating role of proteomics in the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and blood pressure in youth
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is linked to slightly higher blood pressure in young people. Researchers discovered that this effect may be partly explained by changes in a protein called galectin-3, which is involved in inflammation and heart health. These findings suggest that even low level PFAS exposure during youth could influence cardiovascular risk later in life.
Translational framework linking perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) exposure to metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease in adolescents
Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a form of fatty liver disease not caused by heavy alcohol use. It includes a more severe condition, MASLD-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), where liver inflammation and damage occur. The growing number of children affected by MASLD highlights the urgent need to identify environmental and lifestyle factors that may worsen the disease. This study examined the role of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). PFAS are man-made chemicals widely used by industrial processes and consumer products, and nearly everyone in the United States has detectable levels of PFAS in their blood. Researchers found that higher PFHpA levels were linked to greater risk of MASLD and worsen disease severity. These findings provide important evidence for researchers, clinicians, and public health officials. Understanding how PFAS contribute to liver disease may help shape prevention strategies, guide policies that limit exposure, and support precision health approaches to protect children and other vulnerable groups.
Assessing the impact of perfluoroalkyl substances on liver health: a comprehensive study using multi-donor human liver spheroids
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely found in the environment and in people’s bodies. These chemicals have been linked to liver disease, but it has not been clear how they actually damage liver cells. In this study, scientists used a lab model of the human liver to look closely at how different PFAS affect liver cells at the molecular level. The researchers found that PFAS did not all act the same way. Some, like PFOA and PFHxS, caused fat to build up in liver cells, a process linked to fatty liver disease. Others, like PFNA and PFOS, activated pathways involved in cancer development and cell stress. Importantly, PFNA exposure led to cancer-like signatures in more than half of the liver cells tested. Across all chemicals, PFAS interfered with immune cells in the liver and disrupted how different types of cells communicate with each other. The effects also varied depending on whether the liver cells came from males or females, highlighting the importance of sex-specific differences.
Investigating anaerobic digestion microbiome resilience to high PFOA and PFOS mixtures during cometabolism
Anaerobic digestion is a process where microbes break down waste without oxygen, often used to produce biogas. This study tested how these microbes react when exposed to PFOA and PFOS over 100 days. At low levels, the system worked normally, but at high levels, gas production dropped by nearly half, and certain acids built up, which are signs that the microbes were stressed. The chemicals did not break down but instead stuck to the sludge. Some types of microbes became more common, suggesting that the community can adapt to these tough conditions. These findings could help improve ways to treat waste contaminated with PFAS.