Phthalates exposure and gastrointestinal health: a comprehensive review of toxic mechanisms and emerging mitigation strategies
- 1Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
- 2Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
Abstract
Phthalates are widely used plasticizers that can leach into food products, making dietary exposure a significant food safety concern. Increasing evidence indicates that phthalates adversely affect gastrointestinal health and contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that phthalates disrupt gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity, compromising microbial barrier function integrity and facilitating pathogen translocation. They also impair intestinal barrier function by reducing mucus secretion, altering tight junction proteins, and increasing epithelial permeability. Furthermore, phthalates promote intestinal inflammation by enhancing pro-inflammatory cytokine production, suppressing anti-inflammatory responses, and disrupting immune cell homeostasis. Emerging findings reveal detrimental effects on enteroendocrine and enteric glial cells, resulting in altered hormone secretion, impaired gut-brain signaling, and disrupted intestinal motility. This review summarizes current evidence on molecular mechanisms underlying phthalate-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and highlights potential mitigation strategies, including polyphenols, flavonoids, probiotics, prebiotics, and pharmacological interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{anwar2026phthalates,
title = {{Phthalates exposure and gastrointestinal health: a comprehensive review of toxic mechanisms and emerging mitigation strategies}},
author = {Choirul Anwar and Pitchurajan Krishna Perumal and Ping-Chi Hsu and Ching-Shu Lai},
journal = {Current Research in Toxicology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.crtox.2026.100322},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crtox.2026.100322},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Phthalates exposure and gastrointestinal health: a comprehensive review of toxic mechanisms and emerging mitigation strategies
AU - Choirul Anwar
AU - Pitchurajan Krishna Perumal
AU - Ping-Chi Hsu
AU - Ching-Shu Lai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Current Research in Toxicology
DO - 10.1016/j.crtox.2026.100322
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crtox.2026.100322
AB - Phthalates are widely used plasticizers that can leach into food products, making dietary exposure a significant food safety concern. Increasing evidence indicates that phthalates adversely affect gastrointestinal health and contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that phthalates disrupt gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity, compromising microbial barrier function integrity and facilitating pathogen translocation. They also impair intestinal barrier function by reducing mucus secretion, altering tight junction proteins, and increasing epithelial permeability. Furthermore, phthalates promote intestinal inflammation by enhancing pro-inflammatory cytokine production, suppressing anti-inflammatory responses, and disrupting immune cell homeostasis. Emerging findings reveal detrimental effects on enteroendocrine and enteric glial cells, resulting in altered hormone secretion, impaired gut-brain signaling, and disrupted intestinal motility. This review summarizes current evidence on molecular mechanisms underlying phthalate-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and highlights potential mitigation strategies, including polyphenols, flavonoids, probiotics, prebiotics, and pharmacological interventions.
SN - 2666-027X
ER -