Teenagers with increased blood ranges of PFAS regain extra weight after bariatric surgical procedure, research finds

Adolescents who endure bariatric surgical procedure face a better threat of weight regain, which may undermine therapy success and long-term well being, if they’ve elevated blood ranges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) previous to the process, in accordance with new USC analysis.

PFAS are manufactured chemical compounds utilized in shopper merchandise that accumulate within the physique over time and are more and more linked to a spread of well being issues, together with kidney issues, liver harm and varied cancers.

The findings are revealed within the journal Weight problems.

Bariatric surgical procedure, a type of weight-loss surgical procedure that alters the digestive system, is an efficient therapy for extreme weight problems that may cut back the danger of long-term well being issues comparable to sort 2 diabetes and heart problems. However many individuals who get bariatric surgical procedure regain important weight over time, which may restrict the process’s long-term well being advantages.

Researchers imagine PFAS publicity might play a task in weight regain as a result of the chemical compounds are recognized to disrupt endocrine and metabolic processes.

“With the rising use of weight reduction interventions all over the world, it’s vital for us to grasp the affiliation between PFAS and profitable weight reduction administration, together with what this implies for long-term outcomes,” stated Brittney Baumert, Ph.D., MPH, a postdoctoral analysis fellow in inhabitants and public well being sciences on the Keck College of Drugs of USC and the research’s first writer.

Baumert and her colleagues performed the primary long-term research linking PFAS publicity to bariatric surgical procedure outcomes in teenagers. They tracked 186 adolescents for 5 years, discovering that these with increased PFAS blood ranges earlier than surgical procedure regained extra weight and had better will increase in waist circumference than these with decrease PFAS ranges.

The strongest associations had been noticed in a category of PFAS referred to as sulfonic acids, which incorporates perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS).

The findings may assist well being care suppliers tailor therapy plans to raised serve sufferers, in addition to provide hints concerning the organic mechanisms that underlie the well being results of PFAS. The research additionally underscores the necessity for stronger limits on PFAS ranges in meals packaging, water provides and different sources of publicity, the researchers stated.

“Our research exhibits a transparent affiliation between PFAS publicity and weight-related outcomes in bariatric surgical procedure for adolescents,” Baumert stated.

“PFAS are a modifiable threat, which is why protecting insurance policies are so necessary to scale back publicity and safeguard public well being—particularly for susceptible populations.”

Monitoring long-term outcomes

The researchers analyzed knowledge on 186 teenagers from the Teen-Longitudinal Evaluation of Bariatric Surgical procedure (Teen-LABS) research who underwent bariatric surgical procedure between 2007 and 2012.

Earlier than surgical procedure, blood samples had been collected from every affected person and examined for ranges of seven varieties of PFAS. Weight, physique mass index (BMI) and waist circumference had been measured earlier than surgical procedure and 6 months, one 12 months, three years and 5 years after surgical procedure.

To research the information, the researchers divided sufferers into three teams based mostly on their blood PFAS concentrations: low, medium and excessive publicity.

General, sufferers with increased blood ranges of PFOS, PFHxS and PFHpS gained extra weight and had better will increase in waist circumference one to 5 years post-surgery, in comparison with sufferers with decrease blood ranges of these chemical compounds.

For instance the distinction for PFOS, adolescents with a beginning physique weight of 328 kilos within the low publicity group regained, on common, 35.9 kilos by the five-year mark. However teenagers of the identical weight with the best PFOS publicity regained, on common, 46.9 kilos.

For PFHpS, teenagers within the highest publicity group regained weight at a median of 4.3% of their baseline body weight per 12 months, in comparison with 2.7% per 12 months within the lowest publicity group.

Higher affected person care

The research provides to the mounting proof supporting stronger regulation of PFAS, the researchers stated—notably in public water provides, that are the best supply of publicity.

It additionally factors to potential methods for enhancing affected person care. Bariatric surgical procedure is dear and invasive, so understanding who’s prone to profit will help suppliers make knowledgeable selections about the very best course of therapy for every particular person.

“We’re additionally enthusiastic about exploring whether or not PFAS publicity is related to different weight reduction interventions,” together with GLP-1 medicines comparable to Ozempic, Baumert stated.

As well as, Baumert and her group are investigating the hyperlink between PFAS and long-term metabolic well being. For instance: how may PFAS publicity relate to an individual’s threat for sort 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver illness (MASLD)? The researchers at the moment are analyzing these connections utilizing knowledge from the Teen-LABS research.