ArticlePediatric research2026
Serum PFAS concentrations and circulating vitamin D in U.S. children: evidence of a paradox.
Article in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThis study examined the relationship between serum PFAS concentrations and vitamin D levels in prepubertal children.
methodsData were drawn from the 2013-2014 cycle of a nationally representative survey, including serum samples from children aged 3-11 years (N = 523). Five newly corrected PFAS components, commonly detected among study participants, were analyzed: PFNA, PFHxS, n-PFOA, n-PFOS, and Sm-PFOS. Combined PFAS toxicity was assessed using total PFOA equivalents.
resultsPositive correlations were observed between age- and sex-adjusted vitamin D z-scores and five PFAS, with unweighted correlation coefficients ranging from 0.02 (PFNA and n-PFOA) to 0.10 (Sm-PFOS and Mix PFOA EQ). After adjusting for covariates, a one standard deviation increase in Sm-PFOS (1.36 ng/mL) was associated with a 0.46 ng/mL increase in serum vitamin D. Children with n-PFOA levels >2.59 ng/mL (3rd quarter) had a significantly lower prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (prevalence ratio = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.98).
conclusionHigher serum PFAS concentrations were associated with higher vitamin D levels in prepubertal children. While this may appear beneficial, it contrasts with growing evidence that PFAS disrupts growth and development. This paradoxical pattern may reflect PFAS-related vitamin D resistance, though functional implications cannot be determined from cross-sectional data. IMPACTS: Higher serum PFAS concentrations were associated with elevated vitamin D levels in prepubertal children. Elevated serum vitamin D in PFAS-exposed children may reflect a compensatory response to impaired vitamin D receptor function rather than improved nutritional status. Our findings caution clinicians that normal or elevated serum vitamin D levels may mask deeper endocrine and developmental disruptions in children, especially in the context of PFAS exposure.
Identifiers
42277185What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.