The prevalence of IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is increasing globally. Characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, IBD can be triggered or exacerbated by diet and environmental factors. Microplastics (tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 mm long) can cause intestinal inflammation, disruption of the gut microbiome and other problems in animal models.
- A group of researchers compared the levels of microplastics in the feces of healthy individuals and people with different severities of IBD by analyzing fecal samples from 50 healthy people and 52 people with IBD
- Analysis of the samples showed that the feces of patients with IBD contained about 1.5 times more microplastic particles per gram than those of healthy subjects. The microplastics had similar shapes in the two groups, but the IBD feces had smaller particles (less than 50 μm).
- The two most common types of plastic in both groups were polyethylene terephthalate (PET; used in food bottles and containers) and polyamide (PA; found in food packaging and textiles).
- People with more severe IBD symptoms tended to have higher levels of fecal microplastics.
- Through a questionnaire, the researchers found that people in both groups who drank bottled water, ate take-out food and were frequently exposed to dust had more microplastics in their feces.
These results suggest that people with IBD may be exposed to more microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is not yet clear whether this exposure can cause or contribute to IBD, or whether people with IBD accumulate more fecal microplastics because of their disease