Heavy Metal–Gut Microbiota Interactions: Probiotics Modulation and Biosensors Detection Original paper

What was studied?

This review investigates the interactions between heavy metals (HMs) and the gut microbiota, with a specific focus on how probiotics can modulate these effects. The study also emphasizes the role of advanced biosensors in detecting HMs in urine, providing a non-invasive and rapid method to monitor HM exposure and the effectiveness of probiotic-based detoxification interventions. By exploring the bidirectional relationship between HMs and gut microbiota, the review highlights how HMs disrupt microbial balance and how probiotics can potentially reverse these effects, offering protective benefits for gut health and promoting detoxification.

Who was studied?

This review encompasses studies conducted across various animal models, including rodents, chickens, and fish, with a focus on understanding how heavy metal exposure alters the gut microbiota. In particular, it examines the effects of metals like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, and how they induce dysbiosis in the gut. Additionally, the study discusses the role of probiotics from genera such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Clostridium in alleviating heavy metal toxicity and restoring gut microbial balance. The review integrates findings from laboratory studies that explore these microbial changes and the potential therapeutic role of probiotics in counteracting HM-induced dysbiosis.

Most important findings

The study found that exposure to heavy metals significantly alters the gut microbiota composition, typically reducing microbial diversity and increasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria. For example, arsenic exposure leads to a decrease in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, while promoting the growth of Verrucomicrobia and pathogenic bacteria like Helicobacter. Similarly, cadmium exposure reduces the diversity of the gut microbiome, increasing harmful bacteria like Escherichia coli, while beneficial microbes such as Akkermansia muciniphila are reduced. In contrast, probiotics have shown promise in mitigating these effects. Probiotic strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been found to resist heavy metals and help restore microbial balance by enhancing the excretion of toxins. Biosensors have become vital tools in detecting heavy metal concentrations in urine, providing a real-time, cost-effective method for monitoring the effectiveness of probiotic interventions.

Key implications

The findings suggest that heavy metal exposure can have profound and long-lasting effects on gut health, potentially contributing to the onset or worsening of various diseases. The review emphasizes the importance of gut microbiota in regulating the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals, and the therapeutic potential of probiotics in modulating these effects. By restoring microbial balance, probiotics can enhance detoxification processes, providing a safer and more effective alternative to traditional detox methods. Biosensors further enhance the potential for real-time monitoring of heavy metal exposure, offering a non-invasive and efficient means of tracking the success of probiotic interventions. The review also highlights the need for further research into the development of targeted probiotic therapies and biosensors to improve heavy metal detoxification strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations.