Microplastics and the Gut: Their Concerning Effects

⚕️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, diet, or supplement use, especially if you have existing medical conditions or take medications. The information presented here should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Unfortunately, microplastics don’t pass straight through the digestive system without causing any issues. Instead, they interact with our bodies throughout the journey. Microplastics interfere with critical digestive processes, including penetrating the intestinal wall, disrupting the gut microbiome, and activating the immune system. Interfering with these processes impacts many things, including our digestion and our mood. This article provides a high-level overview of microplastics and the gut, their impact on the microbiome, and their impact on our overall health. 

Microplastics and the Gut: Disruption of the Gut Microbiome

Microplastics trigger gut dysbiosis, reducing microbial diversity and tilting the balance toward pro-inflammatory species [1, 2]. These changes are associated with increased gut permeability, bloating, and shifts in our metabolism. Microplastics can also act as carriers for pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes by supporting bacterial biofilm formation on their surface [1]. Therefore, once inside our body, microplastics can potentially spread harmful bacteria. 

Compromised Intestinal Barrier

Smaller microplastics are easily internalized by intestinal epithelial cells through processes known as endocytosis and paracellular transport [1]. Once internalized, microplastics disrupt tight junction proteins, thin the protective mucin layer, and promote a leaky gut phenotype [1]. Irregularly shaped or sharp-edged microplastics cause more damage than spherical ones, increasing cellular stress and epithelial permeability.

This barrier breach allows microbes, toxins, and particles to translocate from the gut into our bloodstreams, triggering systemic immune responses and chronic low-grade inflammation [1, 3].

Immune Activation and Inflammation Caused By Microplastics

Microplastics increase oxidative stress markers in the gut, including elevated ROS and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity [1]. These stressors activate enteric immune cells and drive cytokine production. Cytokine production initiates inflammation which, when chronic and in the gut, is linked to a number of problems.

Metabolic Disruption and Impact to The Liver

Microplastic-induced gut dysbiosis and permeability affect liver function via the gut-liver axis. Clinical studies associate fecal microplastic load with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and progression to steatohepatitis (MASH) [4]. In animal models, polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles disrupt lipid metabolism and contribute to hepatic fat accumulation [5].

Microplastics also interfere with satiety signaling and nutrient absorption, leading to nutrient dilution and altered feeding behavior in exposed models [6].

Characteristic of Microplastics That Impact Gut Harm

Several characteristics of microplastics can influence the degree to which they harm the digestive tract. For example, shape plays a key role. Irregularly shaped microplastics, like those that are formed from breaking larger plastics, have jagged edges that cause more harm to cell membranes than spherical shaped, smooth microplastics [1].

The size of microplastics also matters. Smaller microplastic, like nanoplastics, are able to pass directly through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, where they’re then moved to the kidneys or other tissues. An individual’s lifestyle can also influence the impact of microplastics on the gut. For example, high-fat diets exacerbate microplastic accumulation [1]. Lastly, the polymer composition can also determine microplastic-induced gut damage. Microplastics carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals or heavy metals, which have been shown to amplify gut toxicity [1, 5]. 

And Where They Go From There

Each time you eat food or drink a beverage that contains microplastics, they make their way into your gut. Numerous studies have shown that microplastics don’t just casually pass through the gut. Rather, they activate immune cells and cause inflammation, damage the barriers in the gut walls, and can ultimately cause metabolic dysfunction. Therefore, if you’re concerned about the impact of microplastics on your health, it’s critical that you formulate and implement lifestyle changes aimed at reducing microplastic exposure and intake. 

While it’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to avoid microplastics, there are many small, simple actions that you can take each day to lower the amount of microplastics you consume. This is why we developed the Deplasto platform. 

Our platform, consisting of scientifically-backed wellness supplement, an app for tracking and measuring microplastic intake over time, and lifestyle recommendations is intended to help you avoid microplastics. Our nutritional supplement is formulated to support your body’s natural detoxification defenses, including oxidative stress management, cellular repair, and antioxidant support. Our microplastic intake app is designed to show you an estimate of your daily exposure, with every datapoint backed by scientific studies, to help you understand how you can best avoid microplastics. Lastly, given that it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid microplastic exposure, we have a plethora of lifestyle recommendations designed to help you make small changes for big impacts. 

Overall, we believe that the best way to eliminate microplastics begins with you and the changes you make to your daily life. Over time, collectively, we can make a significant difference in your health and the environment.

Sources: 

1. Mind over Microplastics- Exploring Microplastic-Induced Gut Disruption and Gut-Brain-Axis Consequences
2. Health Effects of Microplastic Exposures- Current Issues and Perspectives in South Korea
3. Microplastics- an often-overlooked issue in the transition from chronic inflammation to cancer
4. Links between fecal microplastics and parameters related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in humans- An exploratory study
5. A critical review of microplastics toxicity and potential adverse outcome pathway in human gastrointestinal tract following oral exposure
6. Contribution of chemical toxicity to the overall toxicity of microplastic particles- A review