Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42297818›Full record

ArticleNPJ biofilms and microbiomes2026

Intermittent fasting exacerbates microplastic-induced gut inflammation via Rikenella-mediated regulation of purine metabolism and Th17/Treg balance.

Rui Fu, Yixian Cheng, Junjie Chen, Weiwei Sheng, Jinghua Gu, Jiahao Wang, Zheng Zhang, Huake Cao, Jiawei Zhang, Bo Chen and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in NPJ biofilms and microbiomes, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Rui Fu *Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Yixian Cheng *Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Junjie Chen *Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Weiwei Sheng *Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Jinghua GuDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Jiahao WangDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Zheng ZhangDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Huake CaoDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China.
Jiawei ZhangDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China. zhangjiawei@ahmu.edu.cn.
Bo ChenDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China. chenbo831116@163.com.
Guodong CaoDepartment of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, PR China. 11718242@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82403333University Scientific Research Project of the Anhui Provincial Department of Education 2025AHGXZK30172
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The pervasive accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in ecosystems and human bodies has prompted growing concern regarding their biological effects. However, whether intermittent fasting (IF) modulates MP-induced gut injury remains unclear. We established a murine model of chronic oral exposure to 1 μm polystyrene MPs combined with a daily 8-h feeding window. Multi-omics analyses, including 16S rRNA sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and immune profiling, were performed. In a murine model of chronic oral exposure to 1 μm polystyrene microplastics, IF aggravated colonic inflammation and oxidative stress. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that IF further altered the microplastic-associated gut microbiota, notably reducing Rikenella abundance. Untargeted metabolomics revealed disrupted purine metabolism, including decreased hypoxanthine levels, which positively correlated with Rikenella. Combined MP and IF exposure was associated with an increased Th17/Treg ratio. Supplementation with Rikenella or hypoxanthine partially attenuated inflammatory changes. These findings unveil a previously unappreciated risk of IF under conditions of environmental microplastic exposure, and highlight the necessity of integrating environmental toxicants into evaluations of dietary interventions.

Indexed as

InflammationIntermittent FastingMicroplasticsPurinesTh17 CellsT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMaleMetabolomicsMiceOxidative StressRNA, Ribosomal, 16SMicroplasticspurinePurinesRNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Identifiers

PMID42297818
PMCPMC13677689

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.