Gut supplement may help remove microplastics from body

(NewsNation) — A new supplement made from inactive bacteria may help remove microplastics from the body before they can be absorbed into cells, according to early research.

The supplement, called Qi601, is made from a strain of bacteria that has been heat-killed, creating what researchers call a “postbiotic.” Its rough surface appears to act like a magnet for tiny plastic particles, trapping them so they can pass through the body rather than being absorbed.

Drinking from a plastic water bottle? Experts warn of microplastics

Researchers tested the supplement in laboratory models of the human gut lining and later in a small human study in which participants chewed gum, a known source of microplastic fragments. In the study, the supplement successfully bound to the plastic particles in the mouth.

Research links microplastics to health concerns

Microplastics, which are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, have been detected throughout the human body, including in blood and brain tissue.

Some studies have linked microplastics found in arterial plaque to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, while other research has found elevated levels in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

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