Characterizes lactic acid bacteria's protective role against methylmercury exposure in rodents, suggesting dietary strategies for mercury exposure management.
The aim of this study was to characterize the toxicokinetics of dietary Hg and to identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains capable of reducing methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in organs. BALB/c mice and Wistar rats were exposed via drinking water [Hg(II) MeHg] and feed (swordfish, mushrooms). The data showed that the feed matrix did not modify MeHg accumulation, though it reduced Hg(II) accumulation compared to the data observed with drinking water. Two in vitro LAB strains (L. intestinalis LE1 and L. johnsonii LE2) were selected to determine their efficacy in reducing tissue accumulation in mice exposed for 40 days to dietary MeHg. Daily dosing of both strains produced a relevant reduction in Hg content in the organs of animals exposed through drinking water (18–64%). The LE1 strain also reduced Hg content in animals exposed via feed (13–40%). LAB could be a useful strategy in populations which are chronically exposed to Hg through their diet.
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Burbano et al. (2026) studied this question.
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