Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California have found that certain toxic chemicals, known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), may contribute to long-term high blood pressure in teenagers who undergo weight loss surgery.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology and funded by the National Institutes of Health, shows that POPs—industrial chemicals often found in food and stored in body fat—can interfere with the benefits of bariatric surgery, particularly its effect on improving blood pressure. The findings suggest that these pollutants disrupt how the body processes fat, leading to changes in blood pressure.
“Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for severe obesity and improving heart health,” said Shudi Pan, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate at USC. “But it also causes POPs stored in fat to be released into the bloodstream.”
POPs have been banned or restricted in many countries for over 20 years due to their toxic effects, yet they continue to persist in the environment and are found at dangerous levels around the world, including areas where they were never used.
Pan explained that POPs are now recognized as a possible risk factor for high blood pressure, but until now, few studies have looked at how these chemicals in fat tissue affect blood pressure or explored the biological reasons behind it.
The research analyzed data from 57 adolescents who took part in the Teen-LABS (Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery) study. POP levels were measured in their fat tissue before surgery, and their blood pressure was monitored six months and five years later.
The results showed that higher levels of POPs were linked to increased systolic blood pressure five years after surgery. To understand why, the team used metabolomics—a method that studies small molecules produced when the body breaks down substances like fat.
Using advanced tools to scan thousands of metabolites, the researchers found that POPs appeared to disrupt a biological pathway responsible for producing prostaglandin, a compound known to regulate blood pressure. This interference likely plays a role in raising blood pressure over time.
“This is one of the first studies to offer a clear explanation for how POPs affect blood pressure,” Pan said. “Although our sample size was small, the link to the prostaglandin pathway is promising and deserves more research.”
High blood pressure during adolescence can increase the risk of heart disease later in life. Identifying and reducing environmental factors like POPs could help improve long-term outcomes for teens undergoing obesity treatments.
Related Topics:
8 Best B12 Shots for Weight Loss
