The Herbicide Diquat Poisons the Gut, Leading to Multiple Organ Dysfunction
a year ago
- #toxicity
- #herbicide
- #health
- Diquat is a non-selective herbicide used in the US, banned in Europe, that damages plants and humans.
- Primarily entering through the digestive tract, diquat causes intestinal damage, leaky gut, and gut bacteria imbalance (dysbiosis).
- Diquat generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), harming cell membranes, proteins, and DNA, leading to systemic inflammation.
- The herbicide disrupts mitochondrial function, reducing energy production and worsening gut barrier dysfunction.
- Toxicity spreads to kidneys, liver, and lungs, causing organ damage and potential multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).
- Diquat is widely used in agriculture, including on potatoes, sugarcane, corn, and animal feed crops.
- Protective substances like resveratrol, taurine, and probiotics may mitigate harm, but eliminating diquat is the best solution.
- The review calls for epidemiological studies, detoxification strategies, and better models to assess diquat’s full impact.
- MODS, a life-threatening condition, is linked to diquat exposure, reinforcing the need to ban its use.