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Underestimated health risks: Dietary restriction magnify the intestinal barrier dysfunction and liver injury in mice
Wang Lv1, Yihan Shen2, Shimin Xu2
1School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
Abstract:
Microplastics (MPs) have gained significant attention due to their widespread presence in the environment. While studies have been conducted to investigate the risks associated with MPs, the potential effects of MPs on populations with varying dietary habits, such as dietary restriction (DR), remain largely undefined. The sensitivity of the body to invasive contaminants may increase due to insufficient food intake. Here, we aimed to investigate whether dietary restriction could affect the toxicity of MPs in mice. Following a 5-week exposure to 200 μg/L polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs), DR-PSMPs treatment group exhibited significant intestinal barrier dysfunction compared to ND-PSMPs treatment group, as determined by histopathological and biochemical analysis. Dietary restriction worsened liver oxidative stress and bile acid disorder in mice exposed to PSMPs. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that DR-PSMPs treatment caused alterations in gut microbiota composition, including the downregulation of probiotics abundance and upregulation of pathogenic bacteria abundance. The negative effects caused by PSMPs in mice with dietary restriction could attribute to increased MPs bioaccumulation, declined water intake, reduced probiotics abundance, and elevated pathogenic bacteria abundance, as well as the susceptibility of the dietary restriction individual. Our findings hint that the biological effects of contaminants could be affected by dietary habits.
Insights
Dietary restriction (DR) exacerbates microplastic (MP) toxicity in mice, worsening intestinal barrier dysfunction and liver oxidative stress. This highlights how dietary habits influence contaminant health effects.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants.
- The impact of MPs on individuals with dietary restriction (DR) is understudied.
- Insufficient food intake may heighten susceptibility to contaminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dietary restriction (DR) on microplastic (MP) toxicity in mice.
- To determine if DR influences the biological impact of polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs).
Main Methods:
- Mice were exposed to PSMPs for 5 weeks.
- Histopathological and biochemical analyses assessed intestinal barrier function.
- Liver oxidative stress and bile acid profiles were evaluated.
- 16S rRNA sequencing analyzed gut microbiota composition.
Main Results:
- DR mice exposed to PSMPs showed significant intestinal barrier dysfunction.
- Dietary restriction worsened liver oxidative stress and bile acid disorders.
- PSMP exposure under DR altered gut microbiota, decreasing probiotics and increasing pathogens.
- Increased MP bioaccumulation and reduced water intake were observed in DR mice.
Conclusions:
- Dietary restriction amplifies microplastic toxicity through compromised intestinal barrier, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis.
- Susceptibility to environmental contaminants like MPs is influenced by dietary habits.
- Findings suggest that contaminant biological effects are modulated by individual dietary patterns.
