Nine high-absorbing bacterial strains - Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides clarus, Bacteroides dorei, Bacteroides stercoris, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides uniformis, Odoribacter splanchnicus, Parabacteroides distasonis and Parabacteroides merdae, were introduced into mice with cleared intestines of microbes. These mice excreted far more PFAS in their feces than those without the bacteria.

The study’s key findings:

• Lab screening: Researchers tested 38 strains of human gut bacteria, exposing them to different PFAS types. Many bacterial strains absorbed 20–75%, even at high PFAS concentrations.
   

• Animal research: Nine high-absorbing bacterial strains - Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides clarus, Bacteroides dorei, Bacteroides stercoris, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides uniformis, Odoribacter splanchnicus, Parabacteroides distasonis and Parabacteroides merdae, were introduced into mice with cleared intestines of microbes. These mice excreted far more PFAS in their feces than those without the bacteria.
  
  

• Mechanism of action: Some bacteria formed intracellular clumps, sequestering PFAS and amassing between 20 to 75% of these chemicals with no negative effects.
  
  

This is among the first evidence that our gut microbiome could help detoxify PFAS. Harnessing these bacteria could offer a natural, probiotic-based method for reducing PFAS levels in the body—complementing environmental strategies like filtering and banning these chemicals.

The study's authors future research plans include:

• Probiotic development: A Cambridge-based startup, Cambiotics, is working to transform these bacterial strains into probiotic supplements that include these PFAS-absorbing bacteria aimed at PFAS detoxification
  
  

• Human trials ahead: Researchers intend to investigate whether similar effects occur in humans by tracking PFAS levels, microbiome composition, and researching supplements with PFAS-absorbing bacteria
  
  

• Current recommendations: Experts further suggest exposure reduction methods, such as avoiding PFAS-coated nonstick pans and replacing with cast iron and metal, using high-quality water filters, and replacing personal care products that contain PFAS (certain sunscreens, mascaras, shampoos, shaving creams and dental flosses) with all natural and chemical-free products.

We are now discovering that our gut microbiome is more important than we initially thought, and it may help us process, capture and remove these harmful forever chemicals such as PFAS from our bodies. This groundbreaking discovery opens the door to probiotic-based detox strategies. In the meantime, reducing PFAS in our daily life remains the best defense and we should strive to limit these chemicals as there are many safe and equally convenient alternatives on the market.

Our many Essiac products help to act as a probiotic as well as a prebiotic (supplemental food for beneficial bacteria in our gut), especially Essiac Immune Superfood as well as our other original Essiac products, helping to produce and grow a healthy gut microbiome. Try our products today at https://essiac.com/collections/all and read more about their research at essiactruth.org.

Read this article at https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gut-microbes-flush-pfas-from-body as well as at https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/gut-microbes-could-protect-us-from-toxic-forever-chemicals and find the full research article at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-025-02032-5.