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Dr. Rhonda Patrick@foundmyfitnessInstagram

People having heart attacks have far more microplastics in their blood. A recent study found micro- and

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what it claims

The presence of micro- and nanoplastics in the circulatory system is statistically much higher in individuals who have suffered a heart attack, accompanied by increased inflammation.

holds up

This advice is based on an observational study published in the 'European Heart Journal' (2024), which indeed identified a high prevalence of microplastics in patients suffering…

noli's read

This advice is based on an observational study published in the 'European Heart Journal' (2024), which indeed identified a high prevalence of microplastics in patients suffering from acute cardiovascular events. This study is rigorous in its observation, but the design is observational: it establishes a correlation, not a direct causality. Inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha) are indeed associated with the presence of these particles, which is consistent with current knowledge on the immune response to foreign bodies. Rhonda Patrick remains cautious by specifying that the causal link is not demonstrated, which is scientifically accurate. It is not yet proven that plastics cause heart attacks; they could simply be a marker of exposure to a polluted environment. The analysis is therefore a faithful reflection of the current state of research, without overstating the scope of the conclusions.

the sources

  1. 1Marfella R, Prattichizzo F, Sardu C, et al. 2024
  2. 2Vethaak AD, Legler J 2021

Claimed by Dr. Rhonda Patrick. Noli grades the claim, never the person.

Decoded by Noli · July 18, 2026 · the original post

What the graded evidence says

Linked to, not proven to cause.

Effect
cardiovascular events associated with microplastics in plaque — HR 4.53 (95% CI 2.00-10.27) for heart attack, stroke, or death over ~34 months in patients with vs without detectable micro/nanoplastics in carotid plaque (observational, n=257); overall human health effects still uncertain
Measured on
adults undergoing carotid surgery (single observational cohort); general population evidence limited

What’s uncertain

The headline heart-risk finding is from a single observational study and shows association, not cause; it could be influenced by other factors. There are no trials yet proving that reducing plastic exposure improves health outcomes.

Dr. Rhonda Patrick in the Register109 claims graded · solidity 85/100See their record →

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