Microplastics and plasma exchange: What to know
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images
A "blood cleansing" treatment gaining popularity in the longevity space appears to reduce microplastics circulating in the bloodstream, according to newly published research.
Why it matters: People are increasingly concerned about the potential health effects of microplastics in their bodies.
- Small studies have suggested microplastics play a role in preterm births, inflammation and some diseases, but research in this area isn't robust.
Driving the news: A new peer-reviewed study from the company Circulate Health found that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) reduced microplastics levels among patients with moderate to high levels.
- It's the first research of its kind with documented human trials highlighting a therapy for the removal of plastics, Circulate CEO and co-founder Brad Younggren tells Axios.
The findings arrive as Circulate, the nation's largest therapeutic plasma exchange company, expands to roughly 35 clinics and plans additional locations in markets including Aventura, Florida; Aspen, Colorado; and Salt Lake City.
How it works: Plasma exchange is an FDA-cleared procedure that uses IVs in both arms to remove about 70% of the cell-free portion of the blood and replace it with albumin, saline and sometimes antibodies to boost immunity. One session typically takes two to three hours.
- The treatment has long been used in hospitals for certain autoimmune and neurological conditions.
The latest: More recently, TPE has moved into the longevity space, claiming "healthspan" benefits.
- Among those doing it: biohacker Bryan Johnson, Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow, award-winning singer LeAnn Rimes, NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman and technologist Peter Diamandis.
- And it's not cheap: Circulate treatments cost between $5,000 and $15,000.
What they found: Researchers measured microplastics in blood samples before and after plasma exchange procedures performed on 114 patients.
- Among patients with the highest levels of circulating microplastics, average levels fell from 52.2 to 21.1 particles per 100 microliters of blood after a single treatment.
- Patients with moderate levels also saw reductions.
Yes, but: Patients who started with very low levels sometimes saw slight increases after treatment, which researchers believe is a result of plastic tubing and IV equipment used during the procedure.
What to watch: The study does not answer whether lowering microplastics improves health, longevity or disease risk. It also doesn't answer whether repeated treatments reduce the body's total burden over time.
The other side: Microplastic research focused on the human body hasn't been taken seriously by some researchers in the field.
- Earlier this year, The Guardian revealed pointed criticisms of existing research finding microplastics in brains and arteries.
The bottom line: Take these findings with a grain of salt. Or glitter.
- Scientists are still trying to figure out what, if anything, to do about microplastics in the body.
