Longitudinal associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with metabolic syndrome from adolescence to early adulthood: A 10-year prospective cohort study.

An increase in PFAS exposure over 10 years is linked to lower odds of metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity in Taiwanese adolescents and young adults.

• Why it matters: Understanding the long-term impact of PFAS on metabolic health is crucial because these chemicals are widespread and may influence disease risk during critical developmental periods.
• What they did: The study analyzed 516 participants aged 12-30 years from the Young Taiwanese Cohort, measuring 11 plasma PFAS and metabolic syndrome components at baseline and follow-up, using joint models to assess associations.
• The result: Higher changes in PFAS exposure were associated with reduced odds of metabolic syndrome and waist circumference, suggesting reciprocal coupling rather than protection, but causal mechanisms remain unclear.