Cholesterol Drugs Could Reduce PFAS Levels by 40%, Swedish Study Finds
Gothenburg University Research Offers Hope for Forever Chemical Removal, But Health Benefits Remain Uncertain
Medical Research | Gothenburg, Sweden | November 2025
In a promising development for those exposed to “forever chemicals,” researchers at Gothenburg University have discovered that common cholesterol medications can accelerate the body’s elimination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by up to 40%. The study, published in Environment International, offers potential new treatment options for contaminated communities, though scientists caution that faster elimination doesn’t necessarily guarantee improved health outcomes.
Two Cholesterol Drugs Show Promise
The research identified two bile acid sequestrant medications that significantly speed PFAS elimination from the body:
Cholestyramine: Previously identified as effective in a Danish study, now confirmed in Swedish research
Colesevelam: Newly discovered to assist PFAS elimination
Both medications are traditionally prescribed to lower cholesterol levels, but they appear to have an unexpected benefit: helping the body excrete PFAS through feces.
“During the 12-week study, participants experienced up to a 40% reduction in certain PFAS compounds, compared to minimal decreases when not taking the medications,” said Axel Andersson from Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University.
Ronneby: A Community Contamination Crisis
The study took place in Ronneby, Sweden—a town with unfortunately ideal conditions for PFAS research. For years, firefighting foam containing PFAS was used at Air Force Wing F17, severely contaminating the municipal drinking water supply.
The contamination was discovered in 2013, prompting an immediate switch to clean water sources. However, thousands of residents had already accumulated high PFAS levels in their bloodstreams, creating an opportunity for scientists to study elimination methods.
The research involved 10 participants aged 25 to 47 in a rigorous crossover trial design. Each person served as their own control, alternating between 12-week periods on medication and 12-week periods without treatment. This approach allowed researchers to precisely measure how much faster PFAS left the body with pharmaceutical intervention.
The Science Behind PFAS Elimination
Cholestyramine and colesevelam work as bile acid sequestrants—they bind to bile acids in the intestines, preventing their reabsorption and forcing the body to eliminate them through feces.
This mechanism proves crucial for PFAS removal due to a process called enterohepatic recirculation. Here’s how it works:
- PFAS is secreted into bile by the liver
- Bile containing PFAS travels to the intestines
- Normally, both bile acids and PFAS are reabsorbed into the bloodstream
- This recycling keeps PFAS circulating in the body for years
By blocking bile acid reabsorption, these medications also prevent PFAS from being recycled back into the bloodstream, allowing it to exit the body permanently.
The Persistence Problem
Previous research has documented PFAS’s remarkable staying power in the human body:
- PFHxS: 8.5 to 8.8 years half-life
- PFOS: 5.4 years half-life
- PFOA: 2.3 to 3.8 years half-life
These extended half-lives mean that even after exposure ends, the body can take years—even decades—to naturally eliminate these chemicals. The medications offer a way to potentially accelerate this timeline dramatically.
The Critical Unanswered Question
While the study demonstrates clear success in reducing PFAS levels, a fundamental question remains: Does faster elimination actually improve health?
Andersson emphasizes this uncertainty: “Both this study and the previous Danish research only examined elimination rates, not whether accelerated PFAS removal produces health improvements. While medications could potentially lower PFAS in highly exposed individuals, more research is needed to determine if this translates to short-term or long-term health benefits. We must also weigh any risks from the medications themselves.”
