Can PFAS from cookware and clothing cause heart disease in people with prediabetes?

What's actually in it

PFAS accumulate in your blood from nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and treated clothing. Nearly everyone has measurable PFAS levels. For people with prediabetes, already at elevated heart risk, PFAS exposure adds another layer of danger.

About 96 million American adults have prediabetes. Most don't know it. Their blood sugar is elevated, their blood vessels are stressed, and their bodies are already struggling with inflammation.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Am Heart Assoc used data from the Diabetes Prevention Program, a large clinical trial, to see if PFAS levels predicted heart problems in adults with prediabetes.

Participants with higher PFAS blood levels had more heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events over the follow-up period. The risk was real even after accounting for standard risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure.

Multiple PFAS types showed independent associations with heart disease. PFOS and PFHxS had the strongest links. Since these chemicals come from different products, reducing exposure requires changes across your kitchen, closet, and cleaning routine.

PFAS appear to worsen heart disease in prediabetes by increasing inflammation and disrupting blood vessel function. When your cardiovascular system is already compromised by high blood sugar, PFAS exposure can be the extra push that triggers a heart event.