Study links ‘forever chemicals’ to increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Exposure to a class of synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—has been linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study led by researchers at Mount Sinai. The study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, sheds light on the potential health implications of PFAS exposure.
The research team conducted a nested case-control study within the BioMe database, which includes electronic health records of over 70,000 individuals who have received care at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since 2007. The study compared 180 individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to 180 similar individuals without diabetes, matched based on age, sex, and ancestry.
Blood samples were used to analyze PFAS levels in the participants, revealing that higher levels of PFAS were associated with a significantly greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Each increase in PFAS exposure was linked to a 31% increase in risk, with potential metabolic irregularities in amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism playing a role in how PFAS affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
Dr. Vishal Midya, Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and corresponding author of the study, highlighted the widespread presence of PFAS in everyday consumer products and their persistence in the environment and human bodies. The study’s findings underscore the importance of minimizing PFAS exposure to protect public health and understanding the mechanisms through which PFAS impact human metabolism.
Dr. Damaskini Valvi, Associate Professor of Public Health and Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and senior author of the study, emphasized the need for further research to explore the interactions between environmental exposures like PFAS and genetic, clinical, and lifestyle factors in the development of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
The researchers called for larger exposome studies that integrate environmental and genetic data to gain a better understanding of how environmental exposures influence human metabolism and contribute to disease. They also stressed the importance of studying environmental health impacts across the lifespan, from preconception to old age, to identify vulnerable periods for intervention and prevention.
In conclusion, the study adds to a growing body of research linking PFAS exposure to various chronic diseases, including obesity, liver disease, and diabetes. By unraveling the complex relationship between environmental exposures and human health, researchers aim to develop more effective interventions for preventing type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions in the future.
For more information, the study titled “Exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in association to later occurrence of type 2 diabetes and metabolic pathway dysregulation in a multiethnic US population” can be accessed in the journal eBioMedicine. This research was conducted by The Mount Sinai Hospital and contributes to the ongoing efforts to understand the health impacts of environmental chemicals on human health.
