By Diana Allen, MS, CNS

Binders are compounds that bind to and eliminate toxins from the body, preventing them from being reabsorbed in the digestive system.

Because different binders target specific toxins, selecting the right combination can make a significant impact on outcomes, especially when combined with probiotics that support gut health and balance the microbiome.

Some of the most well-researched binders include activated charcoal, bentonite (montmorillinite) clay, and chlorella. More recently, studies have started revealing that certain strains of lactic acid bacteria have the ability to bind to both environmental and endogenous toxins, facilitating their excretion from the body.

Lactobacilli—probiotic organisms commonly found in the human gut and in fermented foods—are widely recognized for their role in restoring gut balance and are now increasingly being studied for their toxin-binding capacity.

Incorporating probiotic strains with a high affinity for toxic heavy metals and mycotoxins into patient protocols presents a practical approach to mitigating toxicity while simultaneously enhancing gut health.

Probiotics as Binders

A 2024 study highlights the remarkable heavy metal-binding capabilities of Lactobacillus strains that produce exopolysaccharides (EPS). Notable strains include Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus reuteri.

Additional research shows that EPS-producing lactic acid probiotics (e.g, L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus) demonstrates a significant capacity to bind cadmium and lead ions, especially under acidic conditions. These results suggest that if taken with food, such probiotics could promote the capture of metals early in the digestive process, within the low pH environment of the stomach and upper intestine.

In addition to metals and plasticizers, lactic acid bacteria have been shown to effectively bind a number of toxic mold products (mycotoxins). Chief among these is aflatoxin, a globally ubiquitous poison commonly found in contaminated
peanuts, coffee, rice, and wheat.

Several studies suggest that Lactobacillus casei is highly effective in binding Aflatoxin B1. A combination of L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, and Saccharomyces boulardii—a yeast probiotic—was shown to bind Aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin.
Independently, L. plantarum also has been shown to bind common Fusarium mycotoxins, notably zearalenone.

Finally, both L. rhamnosis and L. plantarum have been shown to bind phthalate—a common plasticizer that has been associated with altered blood sugar metabolism, endocrine disruption, and related health problems.

Future Implications for Probiotic Therapy in Detoxification

Emerging research on the role of probiotics in modulating the human microbiome is uncovering new therapeutic possibilities, particularly in toxin management. This opens promising avenues for managing toxin exposure through targeted probiotic supplementation—providing healthcare practitioners with innovative, non-invasive strategies to support toxin elimination and enhance overall patient health.

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Diana Allen, MS, CNS, is a clinical nutritionist in private practice and the Product Development Manager at Moss Nutrition. She is the author of numerous health articles and three booklets—Chia Seed, Kombucha, and Natural & Healthy Sweeteners (Woodland Publishing). Diana can be reached at diana@mossnutrition.com or through her website, www.eat2evolve.net

Well Being Journal adapted the above excerpt from Moss Nutrition Digest (no.44) “Enhanced Toxin Binding with Lactic Acid Probiotics,” by Diana Allen, MS, CNS.