An Unexpected Cause of Disruption in Gut Microflora Identified 0 71

At the international conference UEG Week 2025, the first study was presented showing that microplastics can alter the composition of human gut microflora. Scientists from the CBmed research center and their international colleagues found that plastic particles smaller than five millimeters cause shifts similar to those observed in depression and colorectal cancer.

The study utilized samples of gut microbiota from five healthy volunteers who were exposed to five types of microplastics: polystyrene, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethylene terephthalate. Even at concentrations corresponding to typical pollution levels, changes in acidity and bacterial composition were observed, including Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Enterobacteriaceae — important groups responsible for digestion and metabolism.

According to the study leader Christian Pacher-Deutsch, microplastics may affect bacteria directly by altering the chemical environment or creating new microscopic "niches" for their growth. This, in turn, disrupts the balance of microflora and may provoke inflammatory or metabolic shifts.

Scientists emphasize that microplastics are found everywhere — in water, food, and even air, so the impact of these particles on the body cannot be ignored. While it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about health risks, reducing contact with microplastics is, in the researchers' opinion, a sensible measure to protect the gut and brain.