A new supplement called Qi601, made from inactive bacteria, may help clear microplastics from the body before they can be absorbed into cells, according to early research. This “postbiotic” has a rough surface that acts like a magnet for tiny plastic particles, allowing them to pass through the body.
Researchers tested Qi601 in laboratory models of the human gut and in a small study where participants chewed gum, a source of microplastic fragments. The supplement successfully bound to the plastic particles in the mouth.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, have been found in various human tissues, including blood and brain. Some studies suggest a link between microplastics in arterial plaque and increased risks of heart attacks and strokes, as well as higher levels in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
