1. |
- Dunder, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and diabetes in two population-based cohort studies from Sweden
- 2023
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In: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1559-0631 .- 1559-064X. ; 33:5, s. 748-756
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been suggested to contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, evidence from epidemiological studies remain divergent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between PFAS exposure and prevalent diabetes in a cross-sectional analysis and fasting glucose in a longitudinal analysis.METHODS: In 2373 subjects aged 45-75 years from the EpiHealth study, three PFAS; perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were analyzed in plasma together with information on prevalent diabetes. Participants in the PIVUS study (n = 1016 at baseline, all aged 70 years) were followed over 10 years regarding changes in plasma levels of six PFAS; PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and changes in plasma levels of fasting glucose.RESULTS: In the EpiHealth study, no overall associations could be observed between the levels of PFOA, PFOS or PFHxS and prevalent diabetes. However, there was a significant sex-interaction for PFOA (p = 0.02), and an inverse association could be seen between PFOA (on a SD-scale) and prevalent diabetes in women only (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.96, p-value: 0.02). This association showed a non-monotonic dose-response curve. In the PIVUS study, inverse relationships could be observed between the changes in levels (ln-transformed) of PFOA and PFUnDA vs the change in fasting glucose levels (ln-transformed) over 10 years (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). As in EpiHealth, these inverse associations were significant only in women (PFOA: β: -0.03, p = 0.02, PFUnDA: β: -0.03, p = 0.03).IMPACT: Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to unfavorable human health, including metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, results from in vivo, in vitro and epidemiological studies are incoherent. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate associations between PFAS and diabetes in a cross-sectional study and glucose levels in a longitudinal study. Results show inverse associations in women only. Results also display non-monotonic dose response curves (i.e., that only low levels of PFOA are related to higher probability of prevalent diabetes). This suggests that sex differences and complex molecular mechanisms may underlie the observed findings. A better understanding of the factors and molecular mechanisms contributing to such differences is recognized as an important direction for future research.CONCLUSIONS: PFOA was found to be inversely related to both prevalent diabetes and changes in plasma glucose levels among women only. Thus, our findings suggest there are sex differences in the inverse relationship of PFOA and type 2 diabetes and glucose levels.
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2. |
- Dunder, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Changes in plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with changes in plasma lipids : A longitudinal study over 10 years
- 2022
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In: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), mainly PFOS and PFOA, and increased blood lipids have been reported primarily from cross-sectional studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between multiple PFAS and blood lipids in a longitudinal fashion.METHODS: A total of 864 men and women aged 70 years and free from lipid medication were included from the PIVUS study, 614 and 404 of those were reinvestigated at age 75 and 80. At all three occasions, eight PFAS were measured in plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were also measured in plasma at all three occasions. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between the changes in PFAS levels and changes in lipid levels.RESULTS: Changes in plasma levels of six out of the eight investigated PFAS were positively associated with changes in plasma lipids after adjustment for sex, change in body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity, statin use (age was the same in all subjects), and correction for multiple testing. For example, changes in perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) were positively associated with the changes in total cholesterol (β: 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14 to 0.32), triglycerides (β: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.04-0.12) and HDL-cholesterol (β: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.04-0.11).CONCLUSION: In this longitudinal study with three measurements over 10 years of both plasma PFAS and lipids, changes in six out of the eight investigated PFAS were positively associated with changes in plasma lipids, giving further support for a role of PFAS exposure in human lipid metabolism.
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3. |
- Dunder, Linda
(author)
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Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) and Metabolic Disruption
- 2021
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Metbolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver lipid disorders and metabolic syndrome are increasing rapidly and have largely been attributed to genetic background and changes in diet, exercise and aging. However, there is now considerable evidence showing that other environmental factors, including environmental chemicals, may contribute to the rapid increase in the incidence of these metabolic diseases. Of particular growing concern is low-dose developmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The developing period is an extremely sensitive window of exposure to environmental stressors, including EDCs, and early life exposure has been linked to metabolic disorders later in life. Consistent with hormones, EDCs can act at very low serum concentrations and even small changes in the endocrine system may lead to extensive effects. The overall aim of this thesis has been to investigate potential metabolic disruption following exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), which is a known EDC. The experimental animal study demonstrated that male and female rat offspring generally exhibited differential susceptibility to developmental exposure to BPA (0.5 µg/kg BW/day or 50 µg/kg BW/day). The main results showed that the lowest dose of BPA induced increased plasma triglyceride levels and increased adipocyte cell density in inguinal white adipose tissue in female offspring. Further, this low dose increased fatty acid indices and altered the fatty acid composition in male offspring and enhanced insulin secretion in pancreatic islets from male and female offspring and dams. Contrastingly, the higher BPA-dose decreased insulin secretion in pancreatic islets from male and female offspring and dams. The increased fatty acid indices, and the altered fatty acid composition together with enhanced insulin secretion may be early risk factors for insulin resistance. Furthermore, depending on the tissue, dose and sex, BPA altered the expression of genes involved in lipid and adipocyte homeostasis.The epidemiological study with a meta-analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) did not disclose any associations between urinary BPA and dyslipidemia. However, considering the cross-sectional nature of the present study, this should rather be investigated in carefully designed prospective cohort studies with repeated BPA measurements. Nonetheless, we hope that this paper can encourage researchers to evaluate NHANES data using meta-analyses instead of pooling of data.This thesis concludes that exposure to BPA, which is a known EDC, most likely is a contributor, along with genetic, social and behavioral factors, to the development of metabolic disorders.
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4. |
- Dunder, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiovascular disease - Results from two independent population-based cohorts and a meta-analysis
- 2023
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals that have been linked to increased cholesterol levels and thus may have a role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Objectives: To investigate associations between PFAS exposure and incident CVD (a combined CVD end-point consisting of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or heart failure) in two independent population-based cohorts in Sweden. In addition, we performed a meta-analysis also including results from previous studies.Methods: In 2,278 subjects aged 45-75 years from the EpiHealth study, the risk of incident CVD in relation to relative plasma levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was investigated. Associations between plasma levels of six PFAS and incident CVD were also examined in the PIVUS-study (n = 1,016, all aged 70 years). In addition, a meta-analysis was performed including three previous prospective studies, together with the results from the present study.Results: There were no overall statistically significant associations between levels of the different PFAS and incident CVD, neither in EpiHealth nor in PIVUS. However, there was a significant sex interaction for PFOS in EpiHealth (p = 0.008), and an inverse association could be seen only in men (Men, HR: 0.68, 95 % CI: 0.52, 0.89) (Women, HR: 1.13, 95 % CI: 0.82, 1.55). A meta-analysis of five independent studies regarding PFOA and incident CVD showed a risk ratio (RR) of 0.80 (CI: 0.66, 0.94) when high levels were compared to low levels.Conclusions: This longitudinal study using data from two population-based cohort studies in Sweden did not indicate any increased risk of incident CVD for moderately elevated PFAS levels. A meta-analysis of five independent cohort studies rather indicated a modest inverse association between PFOA levels and incident CVD, further supporting that increasing PFAS levels are not linked to an increased risk of CVD.
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5. |
- Dunder, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Plasma levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with altered levels of proteins previously linked to inflammation, metabolism and cardiovascular disease
- 2023
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 177
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to immunotoxic and cardiometabolic effects in both experimental and epidemiological studies, but with conflicting results.AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate potential associations between plasma PFAS levels and plasma levels of preselected proteomic biomarkers previously linked to inflammation, metabolism and cardiovascular disease.METHODS: Three PFAS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)) were measured by non-targeted metabolomics and 249 proteomic biomarkers were measured by the proximity extension assay (PEA) in plasma from 2,342 individuals within the Epidemiology for Health (EpiHealth) study from Sweden (45-75 years old, 50.6 % men).RESULTS: After adjustment for age and sex, 92% of the significant associations between PFOS concentrations and proteins were inverse (p < 0.0002, Bonferroni-adjusted). The results were not as clear for PFOA and PFHxS, but still with 80% and 64 % of the significant associations with proteins being inverse. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, education, exercise habits and alcohol consumption, levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and paraoxonase type 3 (PON3) remained positively associated with all three PFAS, while resistin (RETN) and urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (uPAR) showed inverse associations with all three PFAS.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings imply that PFAS exposure is cross-sectionally linked to altered levels of proteins previously linked to inflammation, metabolism and cardiovascular disease in middle-aged humans.
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6. |
- Heindel, Jerrold J., et al.
(author)
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Obesity II : Establishing causal links between chemical exposures and obesity
- 2022
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In: Biochemical Pharmacology. - : Elsevier. - 0006-2952 .- 1356-1839 .- 1873-2968. ; 199
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Obesity is a multifactorial disease with both genetic and environmental components. The prevailing view is that obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure caused by overeating and insufficient exercise. We describe another environmental element that can alter the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure: obesogens. Obesogens are a subset of environmental chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors affecting metabolic endpoints. The obesogen hypothesis posits that exposure to endocrine disruptors and other chemicals can alter the development and function of the adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and brain, thus changing the set point for control of metabolism. Obesogens can determine how much food is needed to maintain homeostasis and thereby increase the susceptibility to obesity. The most sensitive time for obesogen action is in utero and early childhood, in part via epigenetic programming that can be transmitted to future generations. This review explores the evidence supporting the obesogen hypothesis and highlights knowledge gaps that have prevented widespread acceptance as a contributor to the obesity pandemic. Critically, the obesogen hypothesis changes the narrative from curing obesity to preventing obesity.
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8. |
- Jugan, Juliann, et al.
(author)
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The associations between p,p'-DDE levels and plasma levels of lipoproteins and their subclasses in an elderly population determined by analysis of lipoprotein content
- 2020
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In: Lipids in Health and Disease. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1476-511X. ; 19:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Lipoproteins at aberrant levels are known to play a role in cardiovascular disease. The metabolite of the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), physically associates with lipids and accumulates in adipose tissue. Little is known about which lipoproteins associate with p,p'-DDE. An association between p,p'-DDE exposure and altered levels of circulating lipids was assessed in a large human cohort using a detailed analysis of lipoprotein content.METHODS: Plasma samples were collected from the subset of 75-year old Swedes in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature of Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) cohort who were not prescribed lipid lowering medication (n = 571). p,p'-DDE concentrations in plasma were measured using high-throughput solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Analysis of plasma lipoprotein content was performed with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.RESULTS: Detectable levels of p,p'-DDE were found in the plasma samples of all subjects. Elevated p,p'-DDE levels were associated with increased concentrations of lipoproteins of all diameters, with the exception of high density lipoprotein (HDL) of diameters between 14.3 nm-10.9 nm. Of the lipoprotein constituents, triglycerides were most uniformly associated with elevated p,p'-DDE across lipoproteins. p,p'-DDE was furthermore associated with apolipoprotein B, but not apolipoprotein A1.CONCLUSIONS: The positive associations observed between each lipoprotein class and elevated p,p'-DDE support previous data suggesting that p,p'-DDE interacts with lipoproteins within plasma. It is speculated that both physio-chemical and biological mechanisms may explain why p,p'-DDE does not uniformly associate with lipids across lipoproteins.
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9. |
- Lee, Duk-Hee, et al.
(author)
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Lipophilic Environmental Chemical Mixtures Released During Weight-Loss : The Need to Consider Dynamics
- 2020
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In: Bioessays. - : Wiley. - 0265-9247 .- 1521-1878. ; 42:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intentional weight loss can increase health risk in the long-term, despite short-term benefits, because human adipose tissue is widely contaminated with various lipophilic environmental contaminants, especially persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Recently, chronic exposure to low POPs has emerged as a new risk factor for common metabolic diseases and cardiovascular diseases. The amount of POPs released from adipocytes to the circulation increases during weight loss, thereby increasing POPs exposure of other critical organs. Possible harmful effects due to release of POPs during weight loss are opposite to those usually expected from losing weight. It is speculated that this tradeoff can explain recent puzzling findings on intensive weight loss. The presence of POPs in adipose tissue adds a challenge to weight management and an optimal strategy of weight management needs to consider both fat mass and dynamics of POPs.
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10. |
- Lind, Lars, et al.
(author)
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Mixtures of environmental contaminants and diabetes
- 2023
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 859:Part 1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Many studies have been published on the relationships between different environmental contaminants and diabetes. In these studies, the environmental contaminants have most often been evaluated one by one, but in real life we are exposed to a mixture of contaminants that interact with each other.OBJECTIVE: The major aim of this study was to see if a mixture of contaminants could improve the prediction of incident diabetes, using machine learning.METHODS: In the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala (PIVUS) study (988 men and women aged 70 years), circulating levels of 42 contaminants from several chemical classes were measured at baseline. Incident diabetes was followed for 15 years. Six different machine-learning models were used to predict prevalent diabetes (n = 115). The variables with top importance were thereafter used to predict incident diabetes (n = 83).RESULTS: Boosted regression trees performed best regarding prediction of prevalent diabetes (area under the ROC-curve = 0.70). Following removal of correlated contaminants, the addition of nine selected contaminants (Cd, Pb, Trans-nonachlor the phthalate MiBP, Hg, Ni, PCB126, PCB169 and PFOS) resulted in a significant improvement of 6.0 % of the ROC curve (from 0.66 to 0.72, p = 0.018) regarding incident diabetes (n = 51) compared with a baseline model including sex and BMI when the first 5 years of the follow-up was used. No such improvement in prediction was seen over 15 years follow-up. The single contaminant being most closely related to incident diabetes over 5 years was Nickel (odds ratio 1.44 for a SD change, 95 % CI 1.05-1.95, p = 0.022).CONCLUSION: This study supports the view that machine learning was useful in finding a mixture of important contaminants that improved prediction of incident diabetes. This improvement in prediction was seen only during the first 5 years of follow-up.
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