Exposure to persistent organic pollutants and sarcopenia: Revealing associations, mediated modifications, and potential mechanisms

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia contributes significantly to the global disease burden, and identifying its risk factors is essential for prevention. However, the effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on sarcopenia remain underexplored. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the association between mixed POPs exposure and sarcopenia and explored the mediating roles of inflammation and oxidative stress, along with potential molecular targets. METHODS: A total of 2106 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Data included 19 POPs across four categories: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as sarcopenia status and covariates. Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines assessed individual effects, while weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and quantile-based g-computation examined mixed effects. Mediation analysis evaluated the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress, and network pharmacology identified potential pathways and targets. RESULTS: The WQS index for mixed POPs exposure was inversely associated with sarcopenia, with PCB146 contributing the most. In BKMR models, PFHS (PIP=0.65) was the top contributor to sarcopenia risk In separate WQS regression models, exposure to PCBs and PBDEs was significantly inversely associated with the risk of sarcopenia, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.66 (95 % CI: 0.46, 0.96) and 0.74 (95 % CI: 0.57, 0.98), respectively. In contrast, OCP exposure showed a significant positive association with sarcopenia (OR: 1.86, 95 % CI: 1.31, 2.63). No significant association was found between PFAS exposure and sarcopenia (P > 0.05). Lower exposure showed a stronger negative effect for PCBs and PBDEs, whereas OCPs had the opposite trend. Inflammation mediated the effects of PCB187 and ppDDE, explaining 3.54 % and 2.87 %, respectively. CDKN1A, NFKBIA, CSF1R, and TFRC were key genes. CONCLUSION: Excessive OCPs was positively associated with sarcopenia, whereas PCBs, PFAS, and PBDEs showed inverse associations. CDKN1A, NFKBIA, CSF1R, and TFRC may be key targets through which POPs influence sarcopenia development.