Polyethylene, a plastic used in food wrappers, storage containers, and beverage cup linings, may contribute to fatty liver disease, according to researchers at Texas A&M University. The team found that exposure to polyethylene microplastics increased indicators of fatty liver disease even when an unhealthy diet was not involved. When the plastic was combined with a diet rich in fat, fructose, and cholesterol, the signs of liver disease became more severe.
Polyethylene accounts for roughly one-third of global plastic production and has often been viewed as biologically inert. The new findings challenge that assumption by showing it may affect the liver's natural defense and repair mechanisms. Using spatial transcriptomics, the team mapped areas of liver damage and identified PPAR-alpha, a protein involved in fat metabolism, and ANXA2, a gene linked to tissue repair, as potential contributors.
Dr. Adi Joshi, an associate professor at the VMBS, noted that previous research had not focused on polyethylene's effect on liver health. He said people with a more Western-style diet, including foods like burgers and sodas, may have a greater chance of progressing to fatty liver disease if they are also exposed to polyethylene. The researchers plan to investigate whether polyethylene exposure could lead to more advanced liver damage, such as fibrosis.