Kimchi Linked to Reduced Microplastics in New Study

Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi have identified a bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, derived from kimchi that can bind to and help remove microplastics and nanoplastics from the body. Led by Drs. Se Hee Lee and Tae Woong Whon, the study found the bacterium achieved an 87% adsorption rate for polystyrene nanoplastics in laboratory conditions and maintained 57% effectiveness under conditions mimicking the human intestine. In germ-free mice given the bacterium, nanoplastic excretion more than doubled compared to control mice, suggesting the bacteria binds to plastic particles in the gut and carries them out through feces. The findings, published in Bioresource Technology on February 15, 2026, point to a potential dietary or probiotic approach to reducing microplastic accumulation in organs like the brain and kidneys, where these particles measuring less than 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters are increasingly detected.

Discovery of Kimchi Bacteria's Nanoplastic Binding Capability

• ▪Drs. Se Hee Lee and Tae Woong Whon at the World Institute of Kimchi led the research team examining the kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium
• ▪Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi identified a bacterium from kimchi that can bind to nanoplastics and microplastics in the gut
• ▪Nanoplastics and microplastics may pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs such as the brain and kidneys
• ▪The kimchi-derived bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 can latch onto nanoplastics and microplastics in the gut and potentially help carry them out of the body
• ▪Nanoplastics measure less than 1 micrometer and microplastics measure less than 5 millimeters

Laboratory Testing and Intestinal Environment Performance

• ▪Under conditions mimicking the human intestine, Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608 nanoplastic adsorption rate dropped to 3%
• ▪Under conditions mimicking the human intestine, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 retained a nanoplastic adsorption rate of 57%
• ▪Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 achieved an adsorption rate of 87% for polystyrene nanoplastics in laboratory tests
• ▪The reference strain Latilactobacillus sakei CBA3608 achieved an adsorption rate of 85% for polystyrene nanoplastics in laboratory tests

Animal Study Results on Nanoplastic Excretion

• ▪Germ-free mice given Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 showed more than twice the amount of nanoplastics in their feces compared to mice that did not receive probiotics
• ▪Both male and female germ-free mice given Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 showed increased nanoplastic excretion
• ▪The study was published in Bioresource Technology on February 15, 2026, with DOI 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134234
• ▪The increased nanoplastic excretion in mice indicates Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 may help remove nanoplastics by binding to them in the intestine
• ▪The study titled "Efficient biosorption of nanoplastics by food-derived lactic acid bacterium" was authored by Jisu Lee, Min Ji Lee, Mi-Ja Jung, Yeon Bee Kim, Yujin Kim, Jeong Ui Yun, Sohee Nam, Young Joon Oh, Tae Woong Whon and Se Hee Lee

Perspective of World Institute of Kimchi researchers

• ▪Food-derived lactic acid bacteria like Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 could be developed into probiotics targeting microplastic removal
• ▪Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656 from kimchi represents a potential dietary approach to reducing microplastic exposure in humans
• ▪The kimchi-derived bacterium's ability to maintain 57% adsorption under intestinal conditions demonstrates practical applicability for human use