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Impact of microplastics exposure on liver health: A comprehensive meta-analysis
Summary
This meta-analysis of 70 studies across mice, fish, crabs, and shrimp found that microplastic exposure significantly increases liver enzymes (ALT, AST), oxidative stress marker MDA, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha), while reducing protective antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx). The findings demonstrate that microplastics disrupt liver function through oxidative stress and inflammation across multiple animal species.
Microplastics (MPs) are significant concerns affecting liver health. This is the first comprehensive meta-analysis, evaluating the impact of MPs on liver functions across various animal models, including mice, fish, crabs, and shrimp. Five databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science, were used to select eligible studies. In all, 70 studies out of 1872 publications were included in the analysis, the impact of MPs on liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Our results revealed significant increases in liver enzymes ALT and AST, oxidative stress markers MDA, and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, along with a notable reduction in antioxidative enzymes like SOD, CAT, GSH, and GPx. These findings suggest that MPs exposure significantly disrupts liver function by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The results underscore the urgent need for targeted environmental policies and further research.