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The role of microplastics in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases
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This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles we eat and drink may contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The plastic bits can damage the gut lining, cause inflammation, and disrupt the healthy bacteria in our intestines. While more research is needed to confirm the connection, this suggests that reducing plastic pollution could be important for protecting our digestive health.
Plastics and their degradation products — microplastics and nanoplastics — are regarded as emerging and significant environmental pollutants that widely penetrate the human food chain. In recent years, increasing evidence has accumulated regarding the potential adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) on human health, particularly on the gastrointestinal tract, which represents the first barrier upon their ingestion. Objective. To summarize current experimental and clinical evidence on the role of microplastics in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Key points. This review discusses the principal sources and types of microplastics, routes of human exposure, and mechanisms of their interaction with the intestinal barrier. Microplastics have been shown to induce mechanical damage to the intestinal mucosa, trigger oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, disrupt intestinal epithelial permeability, and impair immune homeostasis. Particular attention is paid to the effects of microplastics on the composition and functional activity of the gut microbiota, including reduced microbial diversity, overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens, and alterations in microbial metabolites. The role of microplastics as carriers of organic pollutants, pathogenic microorganisms, and antibiotic resistance genes is also considered, as this may enhance their biological activity. Clinical and experimental studies demonstrating higher concentrations of microplastics in patients with IBD and their association with disease severity are reviewed. Conclusion. The available evidence suggests a potential role of microplastics as an environmental factor contributing to intestinal homeostasis disruption and the development of inflammatory bowel diseases. The limited clinical data and heterogeneity of experimental models highlight the need for further fundamental and clinical epidemiological studies to clarify the actual contribution of microplastics to IBD pathogenesis.
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This review pulls together existing research suggesting that tiny plastic particles we ingest may weaken our gut's protective barrier and disrupt healthy gut bacteria, potentially fueling inflammatory bowel disease. While the link isn't proven yet, it's a reminder that reducing plastic exposure in food and water could matter for long-term gut health.
Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Paradigm Shift in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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This review paper summarizes research showing that tiny plastic particles from food and water may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a painful condition affecting the digestive system. Early studies suggest these microscopic plastics can damage the gut lining and trigger inflammation, though more research is needed to prove they directly cause IBD. Since plastic exposure can potentially be reduced, understanding this connection could lead to new ways to prevent or treat digestive diseases.
Micro- and Nanoplastics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: from Experimental Models to Human Evidence
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This review summarizes existing animal, human, and lab research on tiny plastic particles and inflammatory bowel disease. In healthy animals, plastic exposure alone caused mild or inconsistent gut changes, but in animals with chemically induced colitis, it worsened gut damage and inflammation. Human studies found higher plastic levels in feces of IBD patients, but evidence remains limited.
Impact of micro- and nanoplastics on gastrointestinal diseases: Recent advances
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This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics can harm the digestive system by causing oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and disruption of gut bacteria. These connected pathways can damage the intestinal lining and may contribute to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how everyday plastic exposure through food and water could affect gut health over time.
Microplastics, Gut Dysbiosis, and Inflammatory Pathways in Ulcerative Colitis
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This review pulls together existing research showing how tiny plastic particles we eat and breathe in can build up in our gut, throw off the balance of healthy gut bacteria, and trigger inflammation that may worsen or contribute to ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition causing digestive tract inflammation. While this doesn't prove microplastics cause the disease in people, it offers a clearer picture of the possible chain of events—from plastic exposure to gut bacteria disruption to inflammation—which matters because it highlights another reason to minimize plastic exposure in food and daily life while scientists work out prevention strategies.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.