This study aimed to investigate the association between perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the elderly. Our sample included 1420 participants (≥ 60 years) from the 2003-2014 NHANES study with available serum PFASs, covariates, and outcomes. NAFLD was defined based on the hepatic steatosis index. Weighted binary logistic regression was utilized to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for each chemical. Results suggested that increase in PFOA concentrations was positively associated with risk of NAFLD in adjusted models. PFNA was also significantly associated with NAFLD development in adjusted linear regression. The effect of PFOA or PFNA on NAFLD development was found to be linear in the trend test. This study added novel evidence that exposure to PFASs (PFOA and PFNA) might be associated with NAFLD development.
Keywords: NHANES; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Perfluoroalkyl substances.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.