A Canadian clinical trial published in the journal Environmental Health, found some reductions of PFAS concentrations in people taking dietary fiber supplements for 4 weeks.
In short:
- The fiber intervention was successful at decreasing levels of PFOA and PFOS, long-chain PFAS that are now being replaced with short-chain PFAS.
- While PFAS levels were not linked to poor cholesterol levels, some of the short-chain PFAS were linked to markers of liver damage.
- This was the first time some of these short-chain PFAS have been found in Canadians.
Key quote: “Results from this pilot analysis suggest a potentially practical and feasible intervention that may reduce human body burdens for some PFASs.”
Why this matters:
We are all exposed to PFAS via the water we drink, food we eat, air we breathe, and products we use. While long-chain PFAS are being phased out, they are still present in our bodies and the environment due to their persistence. Additional studies have found that fiber-rich diets and the consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with lower PFAS concentrations; increasing fiber consumption may be a way that people can reduce their PFAS body burden and potentially help reduce health effects.
Related EHN coverage:
Individual actions such as eating more fiber can help an individual address their own exposure, but better regulations can reduce exposures throughout society:
- Stricter toxic chemical rules reduce Californians’ exposures
- States move to cement PFAS protections amid fears of federal rollbacks
- Op-ed: After decades of disinformation, the US finally begins regulating PFAS chemicals
More resources
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM): Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up
Michigan State University’s CME course for medical professionals: Nonstick Nuisance: Medical Monitoring for PFAS
Healthline: 16 easy ways to eat more fiber
Schlezinger, Jennifer et al. for Environmental Health, 15 March 2025.
