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Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PD01 supplementation reduces microplastics and microplastic-associated chemicals in humans: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Summary
A new clinical trial found that taking a specific probiotic (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PD01) for six weeks significantly lowered levels of plastic-related chemicals (called phthalates) in people's urine, by roughly 35-60% depending on the chemical measured. These phthalates come from plastics we're exposed to daily and have been linked to hormone disruption and other health issues, so this early evidence suggests a simple probiotic could help your body clear out some of this plastic-related chemical burden. This is a promising first study, though more research is needed to confirm long-term benefits and how it affects overall health.
Abstract Plastic products have greatly improved convenience in daily life. However, diverse pollutants released from these materials pose substantial risks to human health. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PD01 has previously been demonstrated to reduce microplastic (MP) bioaccumulation and toxicity in murine model. In this study, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to further evaluate the efficacy of L. plantarum PD01 in reducing MPs and MP-associated chemicals in humans. A total of 106 participants were recruited in November 2025. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the placebo or intervention group, and orally received placebo or 1.0×10 10 colony-forming units (CFU) L. plantarum PD01 after meals three times a day, respectively. Fecal, urinary, and blood samples were collected to determine the MPs contents, plasticizer levels, gut microbiota composition, blood metabolic profiles and biochemical indicators. Among these measurements, the analysis of urinary phthalate metabolites was completed first and revealed a significant reduction after the probiotic intervention. Compared with the placebo group, 6-week L. plantarum PD01 supplementation resulted in significant relative reductions in urinary levels of MCMHP by 60.2% ( P = 0.0343), MMP by 51.2% ( P < 0.001), MEHP by 49.6% ( P = 0.0058), MiBP by 45.7% ( P = 0.0085), MnBP by 35.8% ( P = 0.0478), and ΣDEHP by 46.2% ( P = 0.0461). The interim results presented here provide the first clinical evidence that the probiotic strain PD01 can significantly reduce residual MP-associated chemicals in human body. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate probiotic intervention targeting MPs and MP-associated chemicals in humans.