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The Effects of Microplastics on Musculoskeletal Disorder; A Narrative Review
Summary
This review summarizes emerging research on how microplastics affect bones and muscles. Studies have shown that microplastics can disrupt the cells responsible for bone growth and repair, and in muscles they can reduce fiber density, impair blood vessel formation, and cause tissue wasting. While research is still limited, the findings suggest microplastics could contribute to musculoskeletal problems, and the authors call for more studies using human tissues.
Microplastics have been shown to cause abnormal endochondral ossification and disrupt the normal function of pre-osteoblasts, osteocyte-like cells, and pre-osteoclasts through gene mutations, endoplasmic reticulum stress induction, and reduced autophagosome formation in bone growth areas. Although there are few reports on their effects on muscle, it has been noted that microplastics inhibit energy and lipid metabolism, decrease type I muscle fiber density, impair muscle angiogenesis, cause muscle atrophy, and increase lipid deposition. Only a few recent studies have shown that microplastics interfere with the normal function of bone growth-related cells and reduce muscle mass and quality. This review underscores the need for further research into other parts of the musculoskeletal system and studies using human tissues at the disease level.