Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known 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, analyzed data from a cohort of over 70,000 individuals who sought care at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since 2007.
In this nested case-control study, researchers compared 180 individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to 180 similar individuals without diabetes, matching them based on age, sex, and ancestry. Blood samples were used to measure PFAS levels, and the study found that higher levels of PFAS were associated with a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Specifically, each increase in PFAS exposure range was linked to a 31% increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study also identified potential metabolic irregularities in amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism as mechanisms through which PFAS may affect the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
Dr. Vishal Midya, the corresponding author of the study and Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, highlighted the ubiquitous presence of PFAS in everyday consumer products and their persistence in the environment and human bodies. This study is one of the first to explore how these chemicals disrupt metabolism and increase the risk of diabetes, especially in diverse populations in the United States.
The findings underscore the importance of reducing PFAS exposure to protect public health and advancing research on the mechanisms through which PFAS impact human metabolism. Dr. Damaskini Valvi, senior author of the study and Associate Professor of Public Health and Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, emphasized the need for more effective interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes by considering environmental exposures alongside genetic, clinical, and lifestyle factors.
The study called for further research integrating environmental and genetic data to understand how environmental exposures interact with human metabolism and contribute to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. It also advocated for larger study populations spanning various life stages to comprehensively assess the impact of environmental factors on health.
In conclusion, the study’s findings highlight the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure and the importance of continued research to mitigate these risks and protect public health. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex relationship between environmental exposures, metabolism, and chronic diseases like diabetes.
