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P1239 Microplastics are associated with biomarker of intestinal inflammation in a pilot analysis of the PLANET Study
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A pilot analysis of the PLANET Study found that microplastic levels were associated with elevated fecal calprotectin—a biomarker of intestinal inflammation—in women with and without Crohn's disease, suggesting a link between microplastic exposure and intestinal inflammatory pathways that warrants further investigation.
Abstract Background Micro- and nanoplastics are pollutants of growing concern, given the ongoing rise in their production and accumulation in the environment. Emerging data implicate microplastics (MP) in adverse health outcomes. However, their role in intestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not well studied. Methods We established the Exploring the Role of Plastics and Toxins in Intestinal Inflammation (PLANET) Study to understand the impact of MP on intestinal inflammation and Crohn’s disease (CD) in women with and without CD and their offspring. We prospectively recruited pregnant women with and without CD in the third trimester, obtained clinical and survey data, and collected stool samples without the use of plastic materials, taking strict precautions to avoid ambient MP contamination in processing. Using a well-established protocol for MP analyses, consisting of multi-step enzymatic and oxidative treatment and state-of-the-art µFourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (µFTIR) imaging, we measured the number, estimated mass, and types of MP larger than 10 µm in stool samples. Then, using an ELISA assay, we measured fecal calprotectin. We conducted Spearman’s partial correlation analyses while controlling for IBD status. Results Of the 11 study participants in this pilot analysis, four individuals had IBD. The median (IQR) age at enrollment was 38 years (IQR 34, 29). MPs were detected in all third trimester stool samples, with a count ranging from 34-410 particles/g dry weight of stool. The distribution of types of MP is reported in Figure(a). The median fecal calprotectin level for those with and without IBD was 48.1 µg/g and 13.2 µg/g, respectively. The counts and total mass of MP in stool samples were positively rank correlated with fecal calprotectin concentration on controlling for IBD status (Spearman’s r = 0.65, p = 0.04 and 0.48, p = 0.16, respectively; Figure(b)). Conclusion MP were detected in all stool samples in our pilot analysis of pregnant women with and without CD, and higher MP count was correlated with fecal calprotectin, indicative of intestinal inflammation. Further exploration of MP in intestinal inflammation and IBD, including transgenerational impact, is ongoing. Figure: (A) Distribution of microplastics and their subtypes across stool samples from study participants (B) Correlation between microplastic count and fecal calprotectin concentration.
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