Supplement Removes Forever Chemicals From Body
Can Fiber Supplements Help Remove PFAS “Forever Chemicals” From Your Body?
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PFAS,frequently enough called “forever chemicals,” are a growing health concern,found in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. These persistent substances don’t break down in the environment or the human body, leading to bioaccumulation and potential health risks.But could a simple dietary supplement – fiber – offer a solution for reducing PFAS levels? Researchers at Boston University are exploring this promising avenue, building on a groundbreaking pilot study and delving deeper into the potential of gel-forming fibers.
The PFAS Problem: A Widespread Contaminant
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 9,000 man-made chemicals used in countless consumer and industrial products since the 1940s. Their widespread use has led to ubiquitous environmental contamination, impacting drinking water, soil, and even the air we breathe. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a range of health problems, including:
Immune system suppression: Reduced antibody response to vaccines.
Increased cholesterol levels: Contributing to cardiovascular disease.
Thyroid disruption: Affecting metabolism and hormone regulation.
Certain cancers: Including kidney and testicular cancer.
developmental effects: Impacts on fetal and child development.Because PFAS don’t degrade, they accumulate in the body over time. This bioaccumulation is particularly concerning, as even low levels of exposure can have long-term health consequences. Traditional methods for removing PFAS from the body, like bloodletting (phlebotomy), are impractical for widespread use.
A Surprising Finding: The Role of Cholestyramine and Fiber
Dr. Caroline Schlezinger, a research scientist at Boston UniversityS National Emerging Contaminants Learning and Evaluation (NECLE) Center, initially investigated cholestyramine, a medication typically used to lower cholesterol, as a potential method for reducing PFAS levels. The pilot study yielded encouraging results: participants taking cholestyramine experienced a statistically meaningful decrease in PFAS in their blood.
However, cholestyramine isn’t without its drawbacks. It can cause unpleasant side effects and requires a prescription. Schlezinger’s team then turned their attention to a more accessible and potentially gentler approach: gel-forming fibers.
“We want to figure out if we’re right: Is the hypothesis correct when we are testing it in a very controlled scenario?” schlezinger explains. The core idea is that these fibers bind to PFAS in the digestive tract, preventing their reabsorption into the bloodstream and promoting their excretion.
Gel-Forming Fibers: A Deep Dive into the Research
Schlezinger’s current research focuses on identifying the optimal gel-forming fiber for PFAS reduction. She’s testing seven different types, including psyllium (found in Metamucil) and oat beta-glucan. The goal is to maximize the effectiveness of this intervention.
Here’s what makes gel-forming fibers so promising:
Accessibility: Fiber supplements are readily available over-the-counter and relatively inexpensive.
Feasibility: Incorporating a fiber supplement into one’s routine is generally easier than drastically altering one’s diet.
Potential for Combination: Exploring combinations of different gel-forming fibers could yield even greater results.
Schlezinger emphasizes that this research is still in its early stages.”I don’t want to imply that you’re going to take a fiber supplement for a few months and the PFAS are going to be gone,” she cautions. However, the initial findings are encouraging and warrant further examination.
The team is also addressing limitations of the initial cholestyramine study. The original trial focused solely on men with high PFAS levels, as menstruating individuals naturally have lower body burdens due to monthly blood loss. Future studies will aim for a more diverse participant pool and will incorporate stricter controls to minimize ongoing PFAS exposure during the trial period.
The potential for fiber-based PFAS reduction comes at a time of shifting regulatory landscapes. Recent rollbacks on PFAS limits in drinking water by the trump administration have raised concerns among public health advocates.
Schlezinger acknowledges the setback but remains cautiously optimistic. “it’s not good news by any way, shape, or form,” she says, “But PFAS are not threatening peopel any more than they