Associations between apolipoprotein B and selected perfluoroalkyl substances among diabetics and nondiabetics

Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Previous population investigation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) features associations with lipids in a number of populations; these investigations have seldom included consideration of apolipoproteins. Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) fractions were considered in this descriptive analysis because they are essential to the assembly, transport, and cellular uptake of lipid classes associated with poorer health outcomes, and they are associated with incident and prevalent disease. Regression models stratified by diabetes and lipid lowering medication (LLM) status for data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2007–2014 were fitted to interrogate associations between selected PFAS and Apo B for US adults aged ≥ 20 years. Adjusted concentrations of Apo B were positively associated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA β = 0.03878, p < 0.01), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS β = .02029, p = 0.02), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA β = .01968, p = .03) for nondiabetics who were not taking lipid lowering medications. These associations were not seen among diabetic participants, except for perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in those taking LLMs (β = 0.03831, p = 0.02). We also note that LLMs have an inferred greater impact on Apo B in the diabetics compared to the nondiabetic populations. We have considered several sources of confounding and think the data are most consistent with a weak causal association that PFAS exposure increases Apo B. The rodent toxicology literature also contains evidence that PFAS disrupt fatty acid trafficking including Apo B, although how the specific findings may relate to circulating human Apo B concentrations is unclear. We therefore advocate for attempts to replicate the findings in other populations and to consider additional types of mechanistic studies.

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Data availability

All data used for analysis for this study are in public domain and available free of charge at www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm

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  1. Independent Researcher, 2959 Estate View Ct, Dacula, GA, 30019, USA

    Ram B. Jain

  2. West Virginian School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Alan Ducatman

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  1. Ram B. Jain
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Contributions

The analyses in this study were solely executed by Ram B Jain, and the study design and interpretation were influenced by Alan Ducatman. Both Alan Ducatman and Ram B Jain contributed to writing, reviewing, revising, and finalizing the study manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ram B. Jain.

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Competing interests

Ram B Jain declares that he had no financial and/or other conflicts that could have affected the conclusions arrived at in this communication. Alan Ducatman has received funding for health communications related to the enrollment of the C8 Health Population, and he has provided scientific support to communities seeking similar class action support to institute medical monitoring. No human subjects were involved in this research, and all data used in this research are available free of cost at www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm

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Jain, R.B., Ducatman, A. Associations between apolipoprotein B and selected perfluoroalkyl substances among diabetics and nondiabetics. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11593-3

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Keywords

  • Perfluorooctanoic acid
  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Lipids, diabetes