Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
High-fiber diets helped mice clear plastic particles from their bodies
A study found that mice fed more fiber cleared more plastic particles from their bodies than mice on a low-fiber diet.
The research tested mice that ate plastic particles and followed how many remained in their bodies over 24 hours.
After a week of daily plastic feedings, gut tissue damage appeared only in the low-fiber group.
The team’s test-tube experiments suggest that fiber can wrap around and stick to plastic particles.
Tiny plastic particles can enter the body from items such as disposable water bottles and food containers, but their effects on human health are not fully clear.
The findings matter because they point to a possible way diet could help limit plastic buildup, but the effect in people is still unknown.
The researchers say further studies are needed, and the mice in the high-fiber group ate much more fiber than is recommended for people.
A high-fiber diet helped mice clear more ingested plastic particles from their bodies than a low-fiber diet, a study found.
The study was reported October 15 in Nature Communications.
Over 24 hours, mice on medium- and high-fiber diets cleared more particles than mice on a low-fiber diet.
After a week of daily plastic feedings, gut tissue damage appeared only in the low-fiber group.
Researchers said it is too soon to know whether fiber has the same effect in people.
- Who
- Researchers led by Eddy Y. Zeng at South China University of Technology studied mice.
- What
- The study found that mice eating more fiber cleared more ingested plastic particles.
- When
- The findings were reported October 15. The article was published November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The research was conducted in mice; the researchers are based at South China University of Technology in Guangzhou.
- Why
- Researchers tested whether fiber could help protect against ingested plastic particles. They proposed that fiber may trap the particles.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The study was reported in Nature Communications.
Researchers gave mice low-, medium- or high-fiber diets and then fed them plastic particles.
Mice in the medium- and high-fiber groups cleared more particles than mice in the low-fiber group.
Researchers observed gut tissue damage in the low-fiber group only.
- Study animals
- Mice
- Study publication
- Nature Communications, October 15
- Diet groups
- Low, medium and high fiber
- Particle clearance period
- 24 hours
- Observed tissue damage
- After a week of daily plastic feedings, in the low-fiber group only
What people are saying
the findings are worth pursuing in follow-up studies
it probably wouldn’t hurt for us to add a little more to our diets