In the modern world, pesticides play a crucial role in agriculture, safeguarding crops from pests and ensuring a bountiful harvest. However, while these chemicals protect our food supply, they may also pose risks to our health. One such area of concern is the potential impact of pesticide exposure on our gut microbes. These tiny organisms residing in our gastrointestinal tract play a vital role in maintaining our overall health and well-being.
Pesticides: The Unseen Peril
While pesticides have undoubtedly helped increase agricultural productivity, their widespread use has raised concerns about potential adverse effects on human health.
The three primary categories of pesticides — herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides — are extensively utilized in agricultural and domestic settings, resulting in the highest levels of human and environmental exposure.
Pesticides can enter our bodies through various routes, including residues on food, contaminated water, and occupational exposure. Once ingested, these chemicals can inadvertently impact our gut microbiota, as your gut is almost the first point of contact for pesticides to enter your body.
Relationship between environmental pesticides impact on microbiota-gut-brain axis
Recent studies have shown that pesticides can disrupt the delicate balance of our gut microbiota. These chemicals may selectively promote the growth of harmful bacteria while reducing beneficial ones. They would alter the physical and biochemical characteristics of the gut environment. Pesticide in the environment has a direct effect on microbial metabolism via inhibition of microbially-produced compounds, gut membrane integrity disruption & inhibition of membrane synthesis. It can also indirectly alternate intestinal motility, gut microbe blood-brain barrier interference, and even disruption of endocrine function with disruption of receptors in the gut.
Health Impact of Pesticides
In animal studies, pesticide exposure has been linked to anxiety, depression-like behavior, disruption in memory ( spatial & short term), and social behavior. Taking a specific type of pesticide; chlorpyrifos has been shown to promote obesity and insulin resistance in rodents.
Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbes influence brain health, and pesticide-induced changes could potentially be associated with neurological disorders. Several environmental toxins have been identified to be involved with the onset of Parkinson’s disease & increase the risk of the disease. Pesticides are the primary class of environmental factors associated with Parkinson’s disease that contain herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and fungicides.
Environmental factors can disrupt the composition of the gut microbiome, leading to the dysregulation of the enteric nervous system. Consequently, the function of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA) is disturbed, giving rise to progressive neurodegenerative diseases.
To alleviate the symptoms of such conditions, probiotics can prove beneficial, as they harbor beneficial microbes like Lactobacillus, Blautia, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, and Akkermansia. These microbes contribute to maintaining a healthy gut environment and potentially aid in combating neurodegeneration.
A Ray of Hope: Mitigation and Prevention
Despite these concerning findings, there is hope. Adopting certain practices can help mitigate the impact of pesticide exposure on our gut microbes:
-Organic Foods: Choose organic produce to reduce pesticide exposure and support a healthier gut.
-Probiotics and Fermented Foods: Incorporate probiotics and fermented foods into your diet to promote a healthy gut environment.
-Safe Pesticide Use: In agriculture and home gardening, prioritize the use of safer, eco-friendly pesticides and follow recommended application guidelines.
R’s KOSO is the only superfood supplement on the market that provides balanced nutrition, combining probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. It’s made from over 100 vegetables, fruits, and plants, including seaweeds and mushrooms, and undergoes about a 1-year fermentation process. R’s KOSO is a great way to reset your digestive system and restore microbiome health.
Reference:
1. Yuan, X., Pan, Z., Jin, C., Ni, Y., Fu, Z., & Jin, Y. (2019). Gut microbiota: An underestimated and unintended recipient for pesticide-induced toxicity. Chemosphere, 227, 425–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.088
2. Kanwar Rajawat, N., Bhardwaj, K., & Mathur, N. (2022). Risk of Parkinson disease associated with pesticide exposure and protection by Probiotics. Materials Today: Proceedings, 69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.12.153
3. Matsuzaki, R., Gunnigle, E., Geissen, V., Clarke, G., Nagpal, J., & Cryan, J. F. (2023). Pesticide exposure and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The ISME Journal, 17(8), 1153–1166. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-023-01450-9
4. Siddiqui, J. A., Khan, M. M., Bamisile, B. S., Hafeez, M., Qasim, M., Rasheed, M. T., Rasheed, M. A., Ahmad, S., Shahid, M. I., & Xu, Y. (2022). Role of insect gut microbiota in pesticide degradation: A Review. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.870462
5. Hotchkiss, M. Z., Poulain, A. J., & Forrest, J. R. (2022). Pesticide-induced disturbances of Bee Gut Microbiotas. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 46(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fuab056
