New research shows that exposure to PFAS chemicals may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by disrupting metabolism and affecting blood sugar regulation
A new study by Mount Sinai has revealed that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, found in many everyday products, has been associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The findings are detailed in eBioMedicine.
Uncovering how PFAS disrupts metabolism and diabetes risk
The research team conducted a nested case-control study, an observational research design embedded within a larger cohort study. For this investigation, they utilised the BioMe database, a robust resource that connects electronic health records and includes extensive medical information from more than 70,000 patients treated at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since 2007. This comprehensive dataset enables in-depth analysis of patient health outcomes and their relationship with various health conditions and treatments, providing valuable insights into healthcare patterns and effectiveness.
The research team conducted an analysis involving 180 individuals who had recently received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. To ensure accurate comparisons, they matched these participants with 180 individuals who did not have diabetes, carefully considering factors such as age, sex, and ancestry. This matching process aimed to create a control group that closely resembled the diabetic participants, thereby enhancing the validity of the study’s findings.
Using blood samples, the researchers examined PFAS levels and found that higher levels of PFAS were associated with a significantly greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. They also found that these associations could be due to metabolic irregularities, specifically in the production of amino acids and the metabolism of drugs, which may help explain how PFAS affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
“PFAS are synthetic chemicals that resist heat, oil, water, and stains, and are found in countless everyday consumer products,” said Vishal Midya, PhD, MStat, corresponding author and Assistant Professor, Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Because they don’t break down easily, PFAS accumulate in the environment—and in human bodies. Our study is one of the first to examine how these chemicals may disrupt the body’s metabolism in ways that increase diabetes risk—particularly in diverse US populations.”
Expanding research to decode environmental impacts on chronic disease
The study highlights the importance of preventing PFA exposure to promote public health and advance knowledge about the potential mechanisms underlying the impact of PFAS on human metabolism.
“This research leverages an exposomics framework to characterise environmental impacts and associated metabolic alterations contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes in vulnerable US populations. Findings can help us design more effective interventions for the early prevention of type 2 diabetes in the future, taking into account individuals’ exposures to environmental chemicals along with other well-known genetic, clinical, and lifestyle factors implicated in diabetes development” said Damaskini Valvi, MD, PhD, MPH, senior author on this paper, and Associate Professor, Public Health and Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Mounting research suggests that PFAS are a risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as obesity, liver disease, and diabetes.”
The researchers are calling for further exposome research studies, highlighting the importance of integrating environmental findings with genetic data to understand better how environmental exposures interact with human metabolism and contribute to chronic disease. They also suggest that larger study populations, spanning the life course from preconception to old age, would be valuable for understanding environmental health impacts across the lifespan and at vulnerable life periods, providing us with a more comprehensive understanding of chronic diseases and how to prevent them.
