Microplastics, the even smaller version of plastic, are increasingly appearing in everyday items such as takeout containers and even our waste products. This raises concerns about their potential impact on our health, as researchers have found they could be causing serious issues, such as improved blood sugar levels and damage to the liver.
A new study in mice suggested that microplastics found in foods and drinks might interfere with blood sugar levels and could be harming the liver. While this research is concerning, it raises red flags about the potential health risks associated with consuming microplastics.
Results from a study conducted at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition further highlight the dangers of microplastics. The findings, presented by Amy Parkhurst, a doctoral candidate at UC Davis, found that mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (a type of food packaging plastic) developed glucose intolerance, a condition known as hyperglycemia, and exhibited liver injury, indicative of a serious health hazard.
The study’s design, which involved exposing mice to daily doses of polystyrene nanoplastics similar to those consumed by humans, revealed that these particles made mice have trouble regulating blood sugar. This condition—known as hyperglycemia—could be a warning sign of conditions like diabetes. In addition to the effects on blood sugar, the study found that the same nanoparticles disrupted the ability of高等Colors enzymes like alanine aminotransferases (ALT) to function, indicating liver damage.
On top of these observational findings, the research also highlighted that the nanoparticles made mice’s gut “leakiness” higher, allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream and potentially stress the liver more. While the research was conducted on mice, its results have broader implications for how microplastics might affect human health. More research is still needed to fully understand the potential risks associated with microplastics in the long term.
Yet the findings are encouraging, as the messages from these studies raise questions about the potential health risks of substances that we now find so everyday—in items we encounter every day, food packaging, and even digestionproducts. The message is clear: what’s too small to see might not be too small to hurt.
