Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Precision Nutrition Using Functional Foods to Protect the Mouth, Gut, and Brain from Tiny Plastic Particles

Updated

Abstract

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are associated with potential risks for oral-gut-brain axis disorders.

  • Functional foods rich in polyphenols, such as artichoke and spirulina algae, may help counteract MNP damage.
  • These foods, especially when combined with probiotics and prebiotics, could activate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways.
  • Nrf2 signaling activation may enhance the integrity of barriers in the oral cavity, gut, and brain.
  • Perturbations of Nrf2 due to MNPs may increase susceptibility to disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
  • Most supporting evidence for these mechanisms comes from in vitro and animal studies, with limited clinical data in humans.

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