Ingested microplastics and gastrointestinal health: a comprehensive review of their role in gut inflammation and dysbiosis

Microplastics (MPs) are a new kind of pollution that may be found in food, water, and the atmosphere, raising substantial alarms about their impact on human health. This study inspects the most recent findings on the impact of MPs on gastrointestinal (GI) health, with a focus on their role in causing gut inflammation and dysbiosis. Animal studies and in vitro tests have indicated that MPs may disrupt the intestinal barrier, increase proinflammatory cytokines, and alter the composition of gut bacteria. These changes include a less diverse microbiota, the extinction of helpful bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, and the emergence of detrimental species, which cause chronic low-grade inflammation. Although there is currently limited human data, preliminary studies recommend a possible relation between MP exposure, GI problems, and inflammatory indications. The study covers the biological processes that cause these effects, how the consequences change depending on the size and composition of the particles, and the current gaps in research that may be applied to individuals. Concerning this, standardized methods to assess MP exposure in people, as well as long-term research to better understand the long-term effects of continuous MP use, are needed. Plastic pollution is worsening globally; therefore, public health must understand its impact on the gut.