Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Major Heavy Metals and Human Gut Microbiota Composition: A Systematic Review With Nutritional Approach Publisher Pubmed



Rezazadegan M1 ; Forootani B2 ; Hoveyda Y3 ; Rezazadegan N4 ; Amani R3
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  2. 2. Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Source: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition Published:2025


Abstract

Background: The human gut microbiota has a critical role in several aspects of host homeostasis, such as immune development, metabolism, nutrition, and defense against pathogens during life. It can be sensitive to xenobiotics including drugs, diet, or even environmental pollutants, especially heavy metals (HMs). The findings of some previous studies are heterogeneous due to the inclusion of various types of study (human, and animal studies) and wide exposures (phthalate, bisphenol A, HMS, etc.), and no comprehensive systematic review has investigated the association between HMs exposure and human gut microbiota composition. Therefore, we carried out a systematic review of human observational studies to examine this association. Main body of the abstract: PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and non-MeSH terms. Eventually, 12 studies for arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) were included in this study. No eligible study was found for Aluminium. Short conclusion: The findings showed exposure to HMs disturbs the composition of gut microbiota and can lead to dysbiosis. Exposure to high levels of As, Pb, and Hg increased the abundance of Collinsella as pathobionts. Evidently, it is related to leaky gut, oxidative stress, and several diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancers. Probiotic treatment and nutritional strategies such as high fiber intake and following antioxidant-rich diets should be considered in terms of HMs exposure. © The Author(s) 2025.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. Antioxidants and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review of Observational and Interventional Studies, Food Science and Nutrition (2022)
2. Correction To: The Concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements in Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio) Fish: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis and Dietary Health Risk Assessment (Biological Trace Element Research, (2024), 10.1007/S12011-024-04340-Z), Biological Trace Element Research (2024)
3. The Association Between Heavy Metals Exposure and Sex Hormones: A Systematic Review on Current Evidence, Biological Trace Element Research (2022)
4. Bio-Accumulation of Some Heavy Metals in Blood Serum of Residents in Isfahan and Shiraz, Iran, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2016)
5. Associations Between Exposure to Heavy Metals and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Critical Reviews in Toxicology (2021)
6. The Status of Lead and Cadmium in Soils of High Prevalenct Gastrointestinal Cancer Region of Isfahan, Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2013)
7. The Possible Effects of Common Air Pollutants on the Pathophysiology of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Narrative Review, International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering (2023)
8. The Effects of Probiotics on Body Weight and Biomarkers of Animal, Pakistan Journal of Nutrition (2013)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Roya Kelishadi (3)
Ensiyeh Taheri (3)
Other Related Docs
9. Meta-Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Toxic Heavy Metals in Muscles of Commercial Fishes in Caspian Sea, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2023)
10. Serum Levels of Lead, Mercury and Cadmium in Relation to Coronary Artery Disease in the Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study, Chemosphere (2017)
11. A Brief Meta-Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Lead and Cadmium in Meat, Liver, and Kidney of Livestock in Iran, Current Nutrition and Food Science (2024)
12. Monitoring of Urinary Arsenic (As) and Lead (Pb) Among a Sample of Pregnant Iranian Women, Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering (2021)
13. Psychological Stress and Gut Microbiota Composition: A Systematic Review of Human Studies, Neuropsychobiology (2023)
14. Recent Advances in the Clinical Management of Intoxication by Five Heavy Metals: Mercury, Lead, Chromium, Cadmium and Arsenic, Heliyon (2025)
15. Role of Phage Therapy in Acute Gastroenteritis, Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2025)
16. The Dysbiosis Signature of Fusobacterium Nucleatum in Colorectal Cancer-Cause or Consequences? a Systematic Review, Cancer Cell International (2021)
17. Birth Size Outcomes in Relation to Maternal Blood Levels of Some Essential and Toxic Elements, Biological Trace Element Research (2023)
18. Potential Harmful Effects of Heavy Metals As a Toxic and Carcinogenic Agent in Marine Food-An Overview, Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science(Egypt) (2021)
19. The Role of Gut Microbiota in Human Metabolism and Inflammatory Diseases: A Focus on Elderly Individuals, Annals of Microbiology (2024)
20. Microbiomes and Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis (Ms): A Systematic Review, AIMS Neuroscience (2023)
21. Exposure to Heavy Metals and the Risk of Osteopenia or Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Osteoporosis International (2020)
22. Dietary Magnesium Intake Is Inversely Associated With Ulcerative Colitis: A Case–Control Study, Crohn's and Colitis 360 (2024)
23. Assessment of Exposure to Lead Through Air and Biological Monitoring in a Lead and Zinc Mine, Iran Occupational Health (2019)
24. Other Trace Elements (Heavy Metals) and Chemicals in Aquatic Environments, Micropollutants and Challenges: Emerging in the Aquatic Environments and Treatment Processes (2020)