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Microplastics, the gut microbiome and ageing: mechanisms and intervention strategies.
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles we breathe, eat, and absorb through our skin may disrupt the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in our digestive system), which in turn can speed up aging and raise the risk of conditions like heart disease and brain decline. The particles seem to trigger inflammation and cellular damage that harm the body over time, though this paper doesn't present new experiments—it summarizes what scientists already know and suggests possible ways to reduce plastic exposure and its health effects. The takeaway: cutting down on microplastic exposure could be one more tool for supporting heal
As a pervasive global environmental concern, micro- and nanoplastic (MNPs) pollution leads to widespread systemic human exposure via three main routes: oral ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that MNPs are strongly associated with ageing and age-related pathologies, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Meanwhile, the gut microbiome, an intensely studied regulatory mediator, plays a critical role in modulating human ageing. This review systematically summarizes the routes of human exposure to MNPs and their mechanistic links to human ageing. It delineates the interplay among MNPs, the gut microbiome and human ageing, and elucidates how the MNPs-gut microbiome Axis drives oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, cellular senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction, disrupts epigenetic modulation, and activates core ageing-related pathways such as TLR4/NF-κB, ultimately exacerbating systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. Furthermore, this review proposes multi-pronged intervention strategies, providing a scientific basis for mitigating MNPs pollution and its associated health risks, and offering novel theoretical insights for the development of anti-ageing interventions.
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Micro- and Nanoplastics as Environmental Stressors: Mechanistic Links Among Gut Dysbiosis, Inflammation, and Systemic Health Effects
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This review pulls together existing research on how the tiny plastic particles we're constantly exposed to (in food, water, and air) might harm our health, not just by directly damaging cells, but by disrupting our gut bacteria and triggering chronic inflammation throughout the body. Scientists think this chain reaction could play a role in heart, liver, kidney, lung, and even brain diseases, though the evidence in humans is still early and more research is needed to confirm how serious the risk really is. The takeaway: microplastics may affect health through your gut, not just wherever they physically end up in the body.
Micro‐ and nanoplastics in gastrointestinal disorders: Mapping the translational gap between exposure, biomonitoring, and pathogenic mechanisms
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Tiny plastic particles from our food, air, and water may be doing more than just passing through our bodies, this review of existing research suggests they can irritate the gut lining, trigger inflammation, and throw off the balance of healthy gut bacteria. While scientists haven't yet nailed down exactly how much exposure causes harm or the precise mechanisms involved, the evidence so far suggests these ever-present plastic particles could be a hidden contributor to digestive health problems, making it a research area worth watching.
The Gut Microbiome in Foodborne Microplastic Toxicity: Mechanistic Insights and Human Health Risk Assessment
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This review pulls together existing research on how microplastics we eat, tiny plastic particles found in food and water, may disrupt the trillions of bacteria living in our gut, weakening the gut's protective barrier and triggering inflammation and stress throughout the body. It also points out that plastics can act like tiny rafts, carrying other harmful chemicals into our system and making the damage worse. While scientists don't yet have the full picture, this matters because it suggests the microplastics in our daily diet could be quietly affecting digestive and overall health, making this an area worth watching closely.
Association between microplastics exposure and gut microbiota and metabolites in older adults: A cross-sectional study
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Researchers analyzed fecal samples from 45 older adults to assess the relationship between microplastic exposure and gut microbiota. They found an average of 70 microplastic particles per gram of feces, primarily PVC, butadiene rubber, and polyethylene, and observed that microplastic exposure was associated with changes in gut microbial diversity and metabolite levels. The study suggests that microplastics may influence gut health in older adults by altering bacterial community composition and metabolic pathways.
Microplastics and nano-plastics as emerging gut–brain axis disruptors: mechanistic insights, health implications, and future direction
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This review pulls together existing research showing that the tiny plastic bits we eat and breathe in (microplastics and nanoplastics) can disrupt the healthy bacteria in your gut, weaken your intestinal lining, and trigger inflammation, problems that don't stay put in your stomach. Once this damage occurs, plastic particles and inflammatory signals can travel through the bloodstream and even cross into the brain, potentially contributing to brain inflammation and disrupted brain chemistry. While more research is needed to confirm exact risks in humans, this matters because it suggests everyday plastic exposure could affect not just
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