AI Insight
South Korean scientists identified a probiotic bacterium derived from kimchi that demonstrates a notable capacity to bind to nanoplastics under simulated intestinal conditions. In laboratory tests, this microbe maintained strong adhesion to nanoplastic particles even in environments mimicking the human gut, outperforming other bacteria that lost this binding ability under the same conditions. The findings suggest a potential biological mechanism through which fermented food-derived probiotics could aid in reducing nanoplastic accumulation in the body by facilitating their excretion.
Why it matters
Microplastic contamination in human tissues is an emerging public health concern with limited mitigation strategies currently available, making this discovery a promising early-stage lead for dietary or probiotic-based interventions. If validated in animal and human studies, this could inform functional food development or probiotic therapies targeting plastic particle clearance.
Scientists in South Korea have discovered that a probiotic bacterium found in kimchi may help the body flush out tiny plastic particles before they can build up in organs. In lab tests, the kimchi-derived microbe clung tightly to nanoplastics even under conditions designed to mimic the human intestine, where other bacteria quickly lost their grip.
Source: This popular fermented food may help flush microplastics from the body