Microplastics as an environmental driver of impaired nutrition.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the human diet, and their interactions with nutrients during digestion may represent an overlooked factor in impaired human nutrition. Here, we show that common plastic particles, including HDPE and PTFE, adsorb dietary proteins and lipids under gastrointestinal conditions, reducing their bioavailability. Exposure to these particles impairs nutrient absorption in vitro, highlighting a link between environmental plastic pollution and compromised digestive efficiency. These findings reveal a pathway by which microplastics may contribute to potential nutritional deficiencies and metabolic dysfunction in exposed populations.