The interference between effects of PFAS exposure on thyroid hormone disorders and cholesterol levels: an NHANES analysis

Studies have documented that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposures are associated with thyroid hormones (TH) and lipid levels. This study investigates whether these effects interfere with each other. We analyzed data on 3954 adults in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 2007-2012). TH disorder was defined using thyroid hormones. Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and six types of PFAS were included. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to estimate the overall effect of PFAS mixture on TH disorder and cholesterols, respectively. Potential confounders, including age, race, gender, education, household poverty, smoking, and alcohol drinking, were adjusted. PFAS mixture was associated increased risk for TH disorder (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.43), higher HDL cholesterol (linear coefficient = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.50, 2.11), and higher total cholesterol (linear coefficient = 5.30, 95% CI: 3.40, 7.21). TH disorder was associated with higher HDL cholesterol (linear coefficient = 2.30, 95% CI: 0.50, 2.11), but not total cholesterol. When adjusted for TH disorder, the effect estimates of PFAS mixture remain roughly unchanged on HDL cholesterol (linear coefficient = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.28, 1.98) and total cholesterol (linear coefficient = 5.61, 95% CI: 3.58, 7.63). Sex modified the effect of PFAS mixture on HDL cholesterol (P for interaction: 0.04) but did not change the interaction between PFAS and TH disorder on cholesterols. We corroborated the adverse health effects of PFAS exposure on TH and lipids; however, these two effects appear to be independent of and not interfere with each other.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relationship between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposures and thyroid hormones (TH) and lipid levels. The results show that PFAS exposure is associated with both TH disorder and higher cholesterol levels. However, these two effects appear to be independent and do not interfere with each other.