A new study from the University of Cambridge, published in Nature Microbiology, has examined how a wide range of environmental substances affect selected gut bacteria. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution.
Professor Ditlev Egeskov Brodersen from Aarhus University, who was not involved in the research, emphasized in an interview with Videnskab.dk that the experiments were conducted in a laboratory setting and not on humans.
More than 1,000 substances tested
The researchers tested more than 1,000 chemicals and their breakdown products on 22 common bacteria from the human gut.
They found that 168 of the substances inhibited bacterial growth. Twenty-four substances affected around one-third of the bacteria.
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A few substances, including the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A and the antiparasitic agent closantel, were harmful to nearly all of the bacteria tested.
The experiments were carried out under controlled conditions, but it is uncertain whether the concentrations correspond to those found in the human gut.
Found in everyday life
Many of the substances examined are pesticides, which can be found in drinking water and food, among other sources.
It is recommended to eat a varied diet, choose organic products, and rinse fruit and vegetables to reduce the intake of residues.
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The study shows a possible effect on bacteria under laboratory conditions. Whether this has implications for human health requires further research.
Sources: Foskning.no, Videnskab.dk, and Nature Microbiology.
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