Exposure to volatile organic compounds and growth indicators in adolescents: Unveiling the association and potential intervention strategies

Environmental pollutant is considered to be one of the important factors affecting adolescent growth. However, the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure on adolescent growth have not been assessed. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018 was used to examine the associations between VOCs exposure and adolescent growth indicators through three statistical models. The mediating effect of bone mineral density (BMD) on these associations was examined. The potential pathways and key targets were identified by the network pharmacology analysis methods. This study included 746 adolescents. Three statistical methods consistently showed a negative correlation between VOCs exposure and adolescents growth indicators. Furthermore, BMD mediated the relationship between VOCs exposure and adolescent growth indicators, with mediated proportion ranging from 4.3% to 53.4%. Network pharmacology analysis found a significant enrichment in IL-17 signaling pathway. Moreover, the adverse effects of VOCs exposure on adolescent growth were observed to significantly attenuate in adolescents with high serum vitamin D levels. Our results suggested that VOCs exposure was an adverse factor affecting adolescent growth, with BMD playing a significant regulatory role, and IL-17 signaling pathway was the underlying mechanism. Vitamin D supplementation may be a viable strategy to prevent VOCs exposure from affecting adolescent growth. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a group of pollutants pervasive in daily life, are absorbed by the human body in various ways, resulting in the occurrence of various diseases. The results of this study suggested that VOCs exposure may affect adolescent growth, with bone mineral density playing an important mediating role, and IL-17 signaling pathway was the potential mechanism. Vitamin D may be a potential intervention strategy to prevent the adverse effects of VOCs on adolescent growth. Our results not only revealed the potential relationship and mechanism between VOCs exposure and adolescent growth, but also provided a potential intervention strategy.