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Pfas in early life and risk of celiac disease : Results from the MoBa and DIPP cohorts

Størdal, Ketil ; Rantakokko, Panu ; Stene, Lars C. ; Kurppa, Kalle ; Hård af Segerstad, Elin M LU orcid ; Hyöty, Heikki ; Laiho, Jutta E. ; Toppari, Jorma ; Veijola, Riitta LU and Pokka, Tytti , et al. (2026) 58th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition In JPGN Reports
Abstract
Objectives and Study: The external environment including toxicants remain largely unexplored as risk factors in celiac disease (CeD). Some of the PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often labelled “forever chemicals”, have immunotoxic properties.

Methods: In a cohort study nested in the Norwegian MoBa and the Finnish DIPP studies, children with CeD were identified by regular case-finding (n = 349, MoBa) or screening (n = 129, DIPP). Cohort controls were randomly selected (n = 324, MoBa) or matched by age and place of birth (n = 274, DIPP). Blood samples collected at birth (cord blood, MoBa) or at the age of 6 months (DIPP) were analyzed at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. We measured 15 PFAS compounds and the... (More)
Objectives and Study: The external environment including toxicants remain largely unexplored as risk factors in celiac disease (CeD). Some of the PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often labelled “forever chemicals”, have immunotoxic properties.

Methods: In a cohort study nested in the Norwegian MoBa and the Finnish DIPP studies, children with CeD were identified by regular case-finding (n = 349, MoBa) or screening (n = 129, DIPP). Cohort controls were randomly selected (n = 324, MoBa) or matched by age and place of birth (n = 274, DIPP). Blood samples collected at birth (cord blood, MoBa) or at the age of 6 months (DIPP) were analyzed at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. We measured 15 PFAS compounds and the 4 PFASs identified in a minimum of 1/3 of the samples were analyzed statistically, with the sum of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA (PFAS4) as the primary exposure. In logistic regression models, we adjusted for birth year, sex and maternal comorbidities, and cohort-specific covariates.

Results: The cord blood PFAS4 concentration in MoBa was similar between cases (mean 8.47; SD 3.60) and controls (8.63; 4.21), and the adjusted odds ratio for celiac disease per unit increase was 0.99 (95% CI 0.95-1.04). In DIPP, the serum PFAS4 concentration at the age of 6 months was also similar between cases (13.36; SD 10.44) and controls (13.71; SD 10.28), and the adjusted odds ratio per unit increase was 1.00 (0.97-1.02). Also none of the specific PFASs (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA) were associated with CeD in MoBa or DIPP. The PFAS4 concentrations were significantly lower over time (birth year) and by increasing parity.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that early-life exposure to the environmental toxins PFAS do not contribute to the individual risk of CeD in childhood. The findings were robust across cohorts and with sampling at birth and at six months age. (Less)
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
JPGN Reports
publisher
Wiley
conference name
58th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
conference location
Lille, France
conference dates
2026-06-24
ISSN
2691-171X
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
fa9ef983-b541-4c9a-985c-3465437c8fec
alternative location
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jpr3.70194
date added to LUP
2026-08-31 09:15:41
date last changed
2026-08-31 11:14:24
@misc{fa9ef983-b541-4c9a-985c-3465437c8fec,
  abstract     = {{Objectives and Study: The external environment including toxicants remain largely unexplored as risk factors in celiac disease (CeD). Some of the PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often labelled “forever chemicals”, have immunotoxic properties.<br/><br/>Methods: In a cohort study nested in the Norwegian MoBa and the Finnish DIPP studies, children with CeD were identified by regular case-finding (n = 349, MoBa) or screening (n = 129, DIPP). Cohort controls were randomly selected (n = 324, MoBa) or matched by age and place of birth (n = 274, DIPP). Blood samples collected at birth (cord blood, MoBa) or at the age of 6 months (DIPP) were analyzed at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. We measured 15 PFAS compounds and the 4 PFASs identified in a minimum of 1/3 of the samples were analyzed statistically, with the sum of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA (PFAS4) as the primary exposure. In logistic regression models, we adjusted for birth year, sex and maternal comorbidities, and cohort-specific covariates.<br/><br/>Results: The cord blood PFAS4 concentration in MoBa was similar between cases (mean 8.47; SD 3.60) and controls (8.63; 4.21), and the adjusted odds ratio for celiac disease per unit increase was 0.99 (95% CI 0.95-1.04). In DIPP, the serum PFAS4 concentration at the age of 6 months was also similar between cases (13.36; SD 10.44) and controls (13.71; SD 10.28), and the adjusted odds ratio per unit increase was 1.00 (0.97-1.02). Also none of the specific PFASs (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA) were associated with CeD in MoBa or DIPP. The PFAS4 concentrations were significantly lower over time (birth year) and by increasing parity.<br/><br/>Conclusions: The findings suggest that early-life exposure to the environmental toxins PFAS do not contribute to the individual risk of CeD in childhood. The findings were robust across cohorts and with sampling at birth and at six months age.}},
  author       = {{Størdal, Ketil and Rantakokko, Panu and Stene, Lars C. and Kurppa, Kalle and Hård af Segerstad, Elin M and Hyöty, Heikki and Laiho, Jutta E. and Toppari, Jorma and Veijola, Riitta and Pokka, Tytti and Koponen, Jani and Tapia, German}},
  issn         = {{2691-171X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Conference Abstract}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  series       = {{JPGN Reports}},
  title        = {{Pfas in early life and risk of celiac disease : Results from the MoBa and DIPP cohorts}},
  url          = {{https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jpr3.70194}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}