Kimchi Probiotic Shows Promise in Removing Nanoplastics from the Body
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A government-funded research institute in South Korea has identified a probiotic bacterium from kimchi that binds to nanoplastics in the intestine, helping remove them from the body. In lab tests and mouse studies, the specific strain maintained its effectiveness under conditions resembling the human gut. The findings, published in a leading scientific journal, suggest a potential dietary approach to mitigating plastic pollution's health impacts.
Facts First
- A kimchi-derived probiotic bound to nanoplastics with 57% efficiency in conditions mimicking the human intestine.
- Mice given the probiotic excreted over twice as many nanoplastics in their feces compared to untreated mice.
- Nanoplastics are particles smaller than 1 micrometer that can enter the body through food and water.
- The research was led by the government-funded World Institute of Kimchi (WiKim) and published in the journal Bioresource Technology.
What Happened
Scientists at the World Institute of Kimchi (WiKim) studied a specific probiotic bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, which is found in kimchi. In laboratory tests, this strain achieved an 87% efficiency in attaching to polystyrene nanoplastics. Under conditions designed to resemble the human intestine, its binding level remained at 57%, significantly higher than a reference strain whose efficiency dropped to 3%. When tested in germ-free mice, subjects that received the probiotic showed more than double the amount of nanoplastics in their feces compared to control mice.
Why this Matters to You
Nanoplastics, which can enter your body through food and drinking water, are an emerging environmental health concern. This research suggests that consuming certain probiotics, like those found in fermented foods such as kimchi, may help your body capture and remove these tiny plastic particles more effectively. While still early-stage, this points to a potential, accessible dietary strategy that could mitigate some of the internal exposure to plastic pollution.
What's Next
The findings have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, which is a key step for scientific validation. Further research will be needed to confirm these effects in humans and to determine the optimal dosage and delivery method for the probiotic. This discovery could lead to the development of specific probiotic supplements or functional foods designed to reduce nanoplastic accumulation.