Probiotic offers hope to reduce mercury poisoning in pregnant women
- Researchers from UCLA and UC San Diego engineered a probiotic that reduces methylmercury levels in mice.
- The study indicated lower methylmercury levels in maternal and fetal tissues of pregnant mice fed the probiotic.
- The probiotic could potentially make it safer for pregnant women and children to consume fish high in mercury.
In a study conducted by researchers from UCLA and UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a newly engineered probiotic demonstrated the potential to reduce mercury levels in pregnant mice. Researchers fed the probiotic to mice whose diet consisted largely of bluefish tuna, a species commonly associated with high mercury content. The results were promising; those treated with the probiotic displayed lower levels of methylmercury—a potent and toxic variant of mercury—compared to those that did not receive the treatment. Furthermore, tests on pregnant mice indicated lower concentrations of methylmercury in both maternal and fetal tissues and diminished signs of mercury toxicity in the fetal brain. This research highlights the devastating effects mercury can have on pregnant women and their developing fetuses, making it a significant public health concern. According to estimates from the World Health Organization, exposure to mercury can lead to cognitive impairments in children, especially in vulnerable populations relying on fish as a primary food source. This microbiome-based treatment holds promise for individuals at risk of high methylmercury exposure, particularly those in regions where fish consumption is integral to their diet. Additionally, this probiotic could benefit people living near environmental mercury sources, such as power plants and mines. Funding from the National Institutes of Health has facilitated this crucial research, providing the necessary resources for scientists to evaluate the probiotic's effectiveness further and possibly lead to human trials in the future. The broader implications of this study could make it safer for pregnant women and children to consume fish without the fear of toxic mercury levels contaminating their health and development. Researchers aim to improve the probiotic's efficiency to protect more people from the dangers of methylmercury as they explore various avenues in their ongoing investigations.