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Relationship between microplastics in stool, diet, and inflammatory markers in healthy Japanese individuals

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2026
Mayumi Tsuji, Kazue Ishitsuka, Yasuhiro Ishihara, Chihaya Koriyama, Mieko Takahashi, Daisuke Nakajima, Yuko Mine, TinTin Winshwe, Keisuke Shimizu, Keiko Shimizu, Sachika Akaike, Mami Kuwamura, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Kenichi Azuma

Summary

Researchers investigated the relationship between microplastics found in stool, dietary intake, and inflammatory markers in healthy Japanese individuals who typically consume a diet high in vegetables and seafood. The study explored how different types of microplastics in the intestinal tract may correlate with gastrointestinal inflammation and oxidative stress markers. The findings contribute to understanding how dietary habits influence microplastic exposure and its potential effects on gut health.

Background: Exposure to microplastics (MPs) can have adverse gastrointestinal effects by inducing inflammation and oxidative stress. The types of MPs in stool vary with the dietary intake. However, how MPs in the intestinal tract influence the inflammatory cytokine levels in the gastrointestinal tract in healthy individuals remains unclear, particularly in Japan, characterized by a high intake of vegetables and seafood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between food intake, stool MPs, and inflammatory markers in healthy Japanese individuals, and estimated the sources of the stool MPs.

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