Tiny plastic particles have quietly become part of everyday life. They are found in bottled water, packaged foods and even the air people breathe, raising growing concerns among researchers about how much plastic may already be accumulating inside the human body.
Now, scientists in South Korea believe a bacteria strain found in kimchi could help the body push some of those particles back out, reports Science Daily.
Unusual discovery
Researchers from the World Institute of Kimchi studied a probiotic bacteria taken from the traditional Korean fermented dish and tested how it reacted to nanoplastics, which are microscopic plastic fragments created as larger plastic products break down over time.
According to the study, the bacteria showed a strong ability to attach itself to the plastic particles during laboratory tests.
Also read: How to reduce the risk of colon cancer in everyday life
Even under conditions designed to imitate the human digestive system, the strain continued performing significantly better than several other bacteria tested by the researchers.
The findings attracted attention because scientists increasingly fear that nanoplastics may move through the body and potentially collect in organs such as the kidneys or brain.
Tested in mice
The research team later carried out experiments on mice to examine whether the bacteria could help remove plastics from the body.
Mice that received the kimchi-derived bacteria expelled more than twice as much nanoplastic waste compared with mice that did not receive the probiotic, according to the researchers.
Also read: How calcium and vitamin D can affect your bone health when taken together
While the scientists stressed that human studies are still needed, the research adds to growing evidence that bacteria from fermented foods may play a larger role in human health than previously believed.
Also read: Why experts recommend eggs after GLP-1 medication