1Bioseparation Technology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST), Kattankulathur – 603203, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, India.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): It is a pregnancy-related metabolic disorder that is characterized by the impairment of glucose regulation and insulin sensitivities. Although well-established traditional risk factors such as maternal age, body weight, dietary habits, and genetic backgrounds are well understood, there has been growing interest in identifying the significance of exposure to "environmental" factors that influence the development of associated metabolic states of pregnancies. Among these "environmental" factors are the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are colloquially known as "forever chemicals". These are manufactured fluorinated chemicals that are widely used as industrial chemicals, consumer products, food packaging chemicals, cosmetic chemicals, and water treatment chemicals. Because of these chemicals' stability and non-biodegradable properties, they tend to persist in the environment and bioaccumulate within biological systems such as the maternal bloodstream, placenta, and umbilical cord-blood samples of pregnant women. A lot of evidence suggests that exposure to PFAS is known to affect the regulation of endocrine systems and the function of pancreatic β-cell activity, lipid metabolism pathways, oxidative stress responses, and inflammation. Moreover, its impact on insulin resistance development and glucose intolerance states is known to potentially contribute to the development of GDM. Aligning these biological principles are the longitudinal and case-controlled studies that found associations between higher exposure levels of these maternal PFAS chemicals such as PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA and the development of GDM and impaired glucose tolerance.
Keywords: PFAS; Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; Pregnancy Metabolism; Perfluoroalkyl Substances; Metabolic Dysfunction.
How to cite this article: Sukhen KS, Yamini T, V R R, Sri YCB, Charmi MB, Reddy A, Toxicology of Maternal PFAS Exposure in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Mechanistic Links to Endocrine and Metabolic Dysregulation. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 721-729; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4s.84
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Conflict of interest: None