Early-life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and infant gut microbial composition

By Laue HE, Moroishi Y, Palys TJ, Christensen BC, Criswell RL, Peterson LA, Huset CA, Baker ER, Karagas MR, Madan JC, Romano ME
Environ. Epi.
January 3, 2023
DOI: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000238

Background:

Human milk is rich in essential nutrients and immune-activating compounds but is also a source of toxicants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Evidence suggests that immune-related effects of PFAS may, in part, be due to alterations of the microbiome. We aimed to identify the association between milk PFAS exposure and the infant gut microbiome.

Methods:

PFAS [perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA)] were quantified in milk from ~6 weeks postpartum using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. A molar sum (ΣPFAS) was calculated. Caregivers collected infant stool samples at 6 weeks (n = 116) and/or 1 year postpartum (n = 119). Stool DNA underwent metagenomic sequencing. We estimated the association of PFAS with diversity and relative abundances of species with linear regression. Single- and multi-PFAS models adjusted for potential confounders in complete case analyses and with imputed missing covariate data for 6-week and 1-year microbiomes separately. We assessed sensitive populations with stratification.

Results:

PFOS and PFOA were detected in 94% and 83% of milk samples, respectively. PFOS was associated with increased diversity at 6 weeks among infants fed exclusively human milk [β = 0.24 per PFOS doubling, (95% CI = 0.03, 0.45), P = 0.03] and born to primiparous mothers [β = 0.37 (0.06, 0.67), P = 0.02]. Estimates were strongest in multi-PFAS models and among complete cases. ΣPFAS was associated with Bacteroides vulgatus relative abundance at 1 year [(β = –2.34% per doubling (–3.63, –1.05), FDR q = 0.099].

Conclusions:

PFAS may increase infant gut microbiome diversity and alter the relative abundance of biologically relevant bacteria. Additional analyses may identify related health outcomes.

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