Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was reviewed?
The review article explores the mechanisms and efficacy by which probiotics, specifically lactic acid bacteria (LAB), bifidobacteria, and yeasts, bind and remove a range of toxic compounds from foods and water. The article emphasizes the potential application of these microorganisms for decontaminating heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and copper), cyanotoxins (notably microcystins), and a broad spectrum of mycotoxins (including aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, and zearalenone). It details the biochemical and structural features of the microbial cell walls, which facilitate the binding of contaminants, and reviews the influence of environmental and process variables (such as pH, temperature, strain specificity, and pretreatments) on binding efficiency. The review also assesses the stability of the microbe-contaminant complexes under gastrointestinal conditions and discusses how these findings can inform bioremediation strategies for the food and beverage industries, as well as for regulatory certification programs.
Who was reviewed?
The review encompasses a wide array of studies involving both in vitro and in vivo experimental models, focusing on various strains of LAB (such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, L. fermentum, L. acidophilus), bifidobacteria (notably Bifidobacterium longum), and yeasts (primarily Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The cited research includes assessments of microbial strains isolated from dairy products, fermented foods, water sources, and animal models, as well as pilot-scale applications. The review integrates findings from bench-scale laboratory experiments, animal feeding trials, and limited pilot-scale studies, providing a comprehensive synthesis relevant for both academic researchers and practitioners in food safety and environmental decontamination.
Most important findings
| Key Finding Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Heavy Metal Removal | LAB and bifidobacteria, notably B. longum and L. fermentum, can rapidly bind and remove up to 99% of lead and cadmium from aqueous solutions, with maximum efficacy at pH 4–6. Removal is strain-specific and enhanced by heat/acid pretreatment. Arsenic removal is possible with aminated strains. Binding is primarily via cell wall carboxyl and phosphoryl groups, and is reversible with chelators. |
| Mycotoxin Decontamination | Specific strains of LAB and yeasts can bind and remove a wide variety of mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, fumonisin B1/B2, ochratoxin A, patulin) from foods and liquids. The process is rapid, largely strain-dependent, and often independent of cell viability. Some strains, such as L. rhamnosus GG and B. longum, are particularly effective, achieving up to 95% mycotoxin removal. Binding is mainly due to surface proteins and polysaccharides. |
| Cyanotoxin Binding | Probiotic strains, especially certain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, can remove microcystin-LR from water, though at lower rates compared to mycotoxins. Removal improves under higher pH and temperature, and is more efficient with metabolically active cells, suggesting a metabolism-dependent mechanism. |
| Mechanisms and Factors | Binding is primarily a physical adsorption process involving negatively charged cell wall components (peptidoglycan, teichoic acids, exopolysaccharides) and, in the case of yeasts, cell wall glucans and mannoproteins. Environmental factors such as pH, temperature, presence of competing cations, and pre-treatments significantly affect removal yields. Single-strain applications generally outperform mixed cultures for single targets. |
| Stability and Practical Considerations | The stability of microbe-contaminant complexes varies by strain and environmental conditions. In vivo studies indicate rapid excretion of toxin-bound bacteria, with reduced toxin bioavailability. However, industrial-scale adoption remains limited; most studies are bench-scale, with a few pilot-scale implementations. Further work is needed for scale-up, process optimization, and regulatory acceptance. |
Key implications
The review highlights that probiotics, particularly specific strains of LAB and bifidobacteria, offer a promising, cost-effective method for removing heavy metals and toxins in food and water systems. For heavy metal certification programs, these findings provide a scientific basis for incorporating probiotic-based decontamination as a supplementary or alternative strategy to conventional methods, emphasizing the need for strain-specific validation and industrial-scale studies to ensure regulatory compliance and consumer safety.
Citation
Zoghi, A., Khosravi-Darani, K., & Sohrabvandi, S. (2014). Surface Binding of Toxins and Heavy Metals by Probiotics.Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 14(1), 84-98. doi:10.2174/1389557514666141125150732
Heavy metals are high-density elements that accumulate in the body and environment, disrupting biological processes. Lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, tin, aluminum, and chromium are of greatest concern due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and health risks, making them central to the HMTC program’s safety standards.
Lead is a neurotoxic heavy metal with no safe exposure level. It contaminates food, consumer goods and drinking water, causing cognitive deficits, birth defects and cardiovascular disease. HMTC’s rigorous lead testing applies ALARA principles to protect infants and consumers and to prepare brands for tightening regulations.
Cadmium is a persistent heavy metal that accumulates in kidneys and bones. Dietary sources include cereals, cocoa, shellfish and vegetables, while smokers and industrial workers receive higher exposures. Studies link cadmium to kidney dysfunction, bone fractures and cancer.
