You have been eating plastic for years; this fermented Korean food might finally help you fight back

South Korea kimchi research benefits: Tiny plastic particles are now commonly found in food and drinking water, raising concerns among scientists about how these materials may affect the human body over time. Researchers in South Korea now say a probiotic bacterium found in kimchi could help the body get rid of some of these nanoplastics by binding to them inside the intestine and helping remove them through waste, as per a report.

The findings were announced by the World Institute of Kimchi, a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, after scientists studied a strain of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi, as per a Science Daily report.

Nanoplastics are extremely small plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer. Scientists are concerned these particles may pass through the intestinal barrier and build up in organs including the kidneys and brain.

Kimchi-Derived Bacterium Showed Strong Nanoplastic Binding

A research team led by Drs. Se Hee Lee and Tae Woong Whon focused on a kimchi-derived bacterium called Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656.

The scientists tested how effectively the strain could attach to polystyrene nanoplastics.

Under standard laboratory conditions, the kimchi-derived strain achieved an adsorption efficiency of 87%, while a reference strain called Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608 recorded 85%, as per the Science Daily report.

What Happened Under Intestine-Like Conditions

The difference became much more noticeable under conditions designed to resemble the human intestine.

The adsorption rate of the reference strain dropped sharply to 3%, while strain CBA3656 maintained a much stronger binding level of 57%.

Researchers said this suggests the kimchi-derived bacterium may continue attaching to nanoplastics even inside environments similar to the human digestive tract.

Mouse Study Suggests Higher Nanoplastic Removal

Researchers also tested the probiotic in germ-free mice.

Male and female mice that received strain CBA3656 showed more than double the amount of nanoplastics in their feces compared with mice that did not receive the probiotic, as per the Science Daily report.

According to the researchers, the findings suggest the bacterium may help remove nanoplastics from the body by binding to the particles in the intestine and promoting their excretion.

Scientists Say Fermented Food Microbes Could Have Broader Health Benefits

The study adds to growing evidence that microbes found in fermented foods may do more than support digestion and food production.

Scientists say these microorganisms could also interact with environmental pollutants inside the body.

Lead researcher Dr. Sehee Lee, said that, "Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized not only as an environmental issue but also as a public health concern," and explained that, "Our findings suggest that microorganisms derived from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this emerging challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific value of kimchi microbial resources to contribute to public health and environmental solutions," as quoted by Science Daily.

FAQs

What did scientists discover in kimchi?
Researchers found a probiotic bacterium that may help bind to nanoplastics in the intestine.

What are nanoplastics?
Nanoplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than 1 micrometer.