Bluepha's Droplastic™ DT88 Achieves Milestone Results in World's First Human RCT Clinical Trial for Microplastic Excretion

VANCOUVER — In a packed conference hall at Probiota Americas this week, Dr. Rao Chitong stepped to the podium with a message that cut through the usual probiotic hype: his team may have found a way to help the human body flush out microplastics.

The chief scientist at Beijing Bluepha Microbiology Technology Co., Ltd. shared the stage with Alan Johnstone, a director at Nutrilution, to present findings from what they claim is the world's first registered clinical trial testing whether a probiotic can promote microplastic excretion in humans.

The results, presented at the June 8-10 conference in Vancouver, Canada, suggest the answer is yes — at least for one specific strain.

A Growing Problem

Microplastics have turned up everywhere in the human body — lungs, liver, placenta, testes — over the past decade of research. Studies have linked the tiny fragments to intestinal inflammation, neurological damage, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive harm.

Public concern has surged. But until now, there has been no proven way to reduce the plastic burden already lodged inside us.

From 10,000 Candidates to One Strain

Bluepha's scientists started with traditional fermented foods and human samples, mining for microbes with an AI-driven, high-throughput biosensor screening platform. They tested more than 10,000 candidate probiotic strains.

One stood out: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88, which the company has branded Bluepha Droplastic™ DT88. It became the first probiotic shown to help the human body excrete microplastics.

In laboratory tests, the strain adsorbed up to 80% of microplastics in vitro. In animal studies, it boosted excretion rates by 34% and cut retention by 67%. The strain also showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, along with the ability to synthesize GABA — a neurotransmitter linked to gut-brain signaling.

The Clinical Evidence

The real test came in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — the gold standard of clinical research — conducted with Lanzhou University. Researchers used high-precision Raman spectroscopy to identify and quantify microplastics in stool samples, measuring results in items per gram of dry matter to eliminate water-weight interference.

The findings, presented by Dr. Rao on stage, showed three key outcomes:

Broad-spectrum excretion: Subjects taking DT88 showed a total microplastic excretion change 3.4 times that of the placebo group.

Targeted clearance of PE: Polyethylene — the most common microplastic found in humans, accounting for 39.9% of the total (often from takeaway packaging) — saw excretion rates nearly 34 times higher in the DT88 group compared to controls (P=0.037).

Reversal of fiber accumulation: Fiber-shaped microplastics, which tend to tangle and resist natural metabolism, showed a concerning accumulation trend in the control group (excretion change of -0.32 items/g dm). DT88 reversed this, pushing the excretion change to +12.46 items/g dm.

How It Works

In March 2025, Bluepha and a research team from Jiangnan University published findings in Environmental Pollution and Frontiers in Microbiology detailing the dual mechanism behind two strains — Paracaseibacillus paracasei DT66 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88.

The strains don't just physically bind to microplastics and carry them out. They also repair the gut barrier by tightening junction proteins, rebalancing inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and restoring microbial ecology.

Industry Context

Probiota Americas, now in its 12th year, has become one of the most influential gatherings for the microbiome industry. This year's theme — "Connecting the Business and Science of the Microbiome" — drew researchers, regulators, and executives from around the world.

For the first time, the conference included a dedicated forum on "Gut Microbes and Environmental Pollutants," reflecting growing scientific interest in how the microbiome interacts with microplastics, PFAS, and other "forever chemicals" accumulating in human tissue.

Bluepha's presentation fit squarely into that emerging conversation — offering not just a problem statement, but a potential solution backed by clinical data.

Whether consumers will embrace a "plastic-excreting probiotic" remains to be seen. But for the first time, the science is moving in that direction.

Disclaimer: This article shares Bluepha's international academic activities and published research findings. It does not constitute a product efficacy claim.