Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been linked to alterations in human metabolism and disease processes. However, the relationship between BFR exposure and blood lipid levels remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between BFR ex...

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Main Authors: Yuxuan Wang, Zhihao Zhang, Nana Shen, Xiaoying Qi, Hao Li, Futong Wu, Zhongze Zhu, Jiarui Liu, Hongfei Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Lipids in Health and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-025-02527-4
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author Yuxuan Wang
Zhihao Zhang
Nana Shen
Xiaoying Qi
Hao Li
Futong Wu
Zhongze Zhu
Jiarui Liu
Hongfei Xiang
author_facet Yuxuan Wang
Zhihao Zhang
Nana Shen
Xiaoying Qi
Hao Li
Futong Wu
Zhongze Zhu
Jiarui Liu
Hongfei Xiang
author_sort Yuxuan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been linked to alterations in human metabolism and disease processes. However, the relationship between BFR exposure and blood lipid levels remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between BFR exposure and blood lipid profiles in American adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2016. Serum concentrations of twelve BFRs, PBB153 and eleven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), were quantified using isotope dilution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS). Blood lipid levels, including total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured enzymatically. The Friedewald equation was used to determine low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): [LDL-C] = [TC] − [HDL-C] − [TG/5]. Remnant cholesterol (RC) was calculated using the formula: [RC] = [TC] − [HDL-C] − [LDL-C]. Multivariable regression analyses were applied to examine the associations between individual BFRs and TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and RC. The overall associations of BFR mixtures with blood lipids were evaluated using quantile g-computation (QGC) analyses and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. In order to identify potential gender-specific differences, stratified mixture analyses were performed by gender. Results A total of 3,154 eligible participants were included. Nine BFRs with a detection rate greater than 70% were included in the analysis. Individually, PBB153, PBDE209, PBDE153, and PBDE28 were positively associated with TC and RC after adjusted all covariates. Furthermore, PBB153, PBDE209, and PBDE153 were positively associated with LDL-C. No association was found between individual BFR and HDL-C. WQS and QGC analyses confirmed that BFR mixtures were positively associated with TC, LDL-C, and RC. Conclusion This study demonstrates that BFR exposure is associated with increased levels of TC, LDL-C, and RC, indicating an elevated risk of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-d6f3873901684a239ea30f6bb123192b2025-08-20T02:49:06ZengBMCLipids in Health and Disease1476-511X2025-03-0124111310.1186/s12944-025-02527-4Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional studyYuxuan Wang0Zhihao Zhang1Nana Shen2Xiaoying Qi3Hao Li4Futong Wu5Zhongze Zhu6Jiarui Liu7Hongfei Xiang8Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityAbstract Background Exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been linked to alterations in human metabolism and disease processes. However, the relationship between BFR exposure and blood lipid levels remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between BFR exposure and blood lipid profiles in American adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2016. Serum concentrations of twelve BFRs, PBB153 and eleven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), were quantified using isotope dilution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS). Blood lipid levels, including total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured enzymatically. The Friedewald equation was used to determine low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C): [LDL-C] = [TC] − [HDL-C] − [TG/5]. Remnant cholesterol (RC) was calculated using the formula: [RC] = [TC] − [HDL-C] − [LDL-C]. Multivariable regression analyses were applied to examine the associations between individual BFRs and TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and RC. The overall associations of BFR mixtures with blood lipids were evaluated using quantile g-computation (QGC) analyses and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. In order to identify potential gender-specific differences, stratified mixture analyses were performed by gender. Results A total of 3,154 eligible participants were included. Nine BFRs with a detection rate greater than 70% were included in the analysis. Individually, PBB153, PBDE209, PBDE153, and PBDE28 were positively associated with TC and RC after adjusted all covariates. Furthermore, PBB153, PBDE209, and PBDE153 were positively associated with LDL-C. No association was found between individual BFR and HDL-C. WQS and QGC analyses confirmed that BFR mixtures were positively associated with TC, LDL-C, and RC. Conclusion This study demonstrates that BFR exposure is associated with increased levels of TC, LDL-C, and RC, indicating an elevated risk of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-025-02527-4
spellingShingle Yuxuan Wang
Zhihao Zhang
Nana Shen
Xiaoying Qi
Hao Li
Futong Wu
Zhongze Zhu
Jiarui Liu
Hongfei Xiang
Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study
Lipids in Health and Disease
title Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study
title_full Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study
title_short Association between exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and blood lipid profiles in American adults: a cross-sectional study
title_sort association between exposure to brominated flame retardants bfrs and blood lipid profiles in american adults a cross sectional study
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-025-02527-4
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