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Preliminary Study on PCC-Chitosan’s Ability to Enhance Microplastic Excretion in Human Stools from Healthy Volunteers
Summary
In a small human trial, ten healthy volunteers who took a chitosan supplement (made from crayfish shells) before eating excreted significantly more microplastics in their stool compared to eating without the supplement. The chitosan appeared to help the body eliminate nine different types of microplastics more effectively, with overall microplastic excretion increasing by about 47%. While preliminary, this is one of the first studies to suggest a dietary intervention could help the human body get rid of accumulated microplastics.
Recent studies have indicated that microplastics (MPs) may accumulate in the human body, potentially posing health risks. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the effect of a food supplement (FS: 0.8 g of chitosan derived from Procambarus clarkii, PCC) on the fecal excretion of MPs (20-500 µm size) following ingestion of a standardized meal (SM). Ten healthy volunteers (non-smokers, non-drinkers, non-drug users) participated in a two-phase, crossover design conducted one week apart. In both phases, participants consumed an SM after overnight fasting, and fecal samples were collected the following morning (7-10 am). Phase 1 served as baseline (no PCC), while in Phase 2, PCC was administered immediately before the SM. Sixteen types of MPs were analyzed. A modest increase (5%) in fecal mass was observed after PCC intake. MP counts were 356 in the SM, 656 ± 110 in Phase 1 feces, and 965 ± 165 in Phase 2 feces. The excretion of nine MPs-PA, PAN, PAM, PE, PES, PET, PP, PS, and RA-was enhanced by PCC. These preliminary findings suggest that PCC promotes the fecal elimination of MPs. Further controlled studies are needed to validate these results and assess their potential relevance for dietary interventions.