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Non-stick cookware chemical may elevate cholesterol

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who regularly use non-stick cookware may want to consider scheduling a cholesterol test, as a new study has found that chemicals used in the production of the products can elevate cholesterol to dangerous levels, especially in adolescents.

Researchers from West Virginia University analyzed blood samples from more than 12,000 children who had previously submitted samples as part of separate study. They analyzed the blood for levels of perfluoroalkyl acids, compounds that are commonly used in pots and pans to give them their heat-resistant, non-stick properties.

They found that children who had the highest levels of the chemical in their blood were significantly more likely to have elevated blood pressure.

"Perfluoroalkyl acids as a general class appear to be associated with serum lipids, and the association seems to exist at levels of exposure that are in the range characterized by nationally representative studies," the study's authors wrote in their report, which was published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

However, the researchers noted that the findings are not conclusive, and further investigation would be needed before any cause-and-effect relationship can be determined.