← Back to all studies
gut microbiome diet

Micro- and Nanoplastics as Disruptors of Digestive and Hepatopancreatic Homeostasis: Insights into the Plastic-Gut-Liver Axis

4 April 2026

Capuano N, Lombardi M, Cafà N, Marino M, Salzano F, Scalia F, Marfella R, Villone G, Cappello F, Szychlinska MA, Franci G, Santoro A, Rinaldi L.

Summary

This research review explores how micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) act as "hidden" disruptors of our metabolic health by damaging the gut lining and altering the microbiome. These particles travel from the digestive tract to the liver, triggering a cascade of inflammation that can lead to fatty liver disease and insulin resistance.

Key Findings

  • Intestinal Breach: Plastics compromise the gut barrier ("leaky gut"), allowing toxins and plastics to enter the bloodstream.
  • Microbiome Shift: MPs/NPs cause dysbiosis, killing beneficial bacteria and promoting strains that trigger systemic inflammation.
  • Liver & Metabolic Damage: Once in the liver, these particles promote oxidative stress, fat accumulation (steatosis), and cellular damage.
  • Multi-Organ Impact: The disruption extends beyond the liver, potentially affecting insulin production in the pancreas and interfering with the gut-brain axis.

Practical Takeaways

  • Reduce Heat + Plastic: Never microwave food in plastic containers, as heat accelerates the leaching of microplastics into your meal.
  • Filter Your Water: Use high-quality water filters (like reverse osmosis) to significantly reduce the ingestion of plastics found in tap and bottled water.
  • Fortify the Gut: Since plastics target the gut barrier, prioritize a high-fiber diet and fermented foods to maintain a resilient microbiome and a strong intestinal lining.
  • Choose Natural Materials: Swap plastic food storage and water bottles for glass, stainless steel, or ceramic alternatives.

Study Limitations

Current findings rely heavily on preclinical animal and laboratory models. While these results are concerning, more standardized human studies are needed to confirm the long-term health impacts and establish specific diagnostic biomarkers.

Abstract

Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) have emerged as pervasive environmental contaminants with increasing implications for human health, particularly within the digestive system. This review critically examines the role of MPs/NPs as disruptors of gastrointestinal and liver homeostasis through the lens of the plastic-gut-liver axis. We synthesize current evidence on primary exposure routes-including ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, and transplacental transfer-and highlight their intestinal uptake, systemic dissemination, and tissue accumulation. Mechanistically, MPs/NPs compromise intestinal barrier integrity, promote oxidative stress, and induce microbiota dysbiosis, facilitating the translocation of microbial-derived signals to the liver via the portal circulation. This process triggers inflammatory signaling cascades, metabolic reprogramming, and immune dysregulation, contributing to hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and potential carcinogenic processes. Emerging evidence also implicates pancreatic dysfunction and β-cell stress within a broader gut-liver axis context. We further discuss the systemic propagation of MPs/NPs-induced dysbiosis along multi-organ axes, including gut-lung and gut-brain interactions. Despite robust preclinical data, human evidence remains limited due to methodological heterogeneity and the lack of standardized biomarkers. This review underscores critical knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for integrative, translational approaches to clarify long-term health risks and inform regulatory strategies within the environmental exposome framework.
Source study →