David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

Do Pesticides Damage The Microbiome?

2 Aug 2015 · 2 min

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1:34

In this segment of his YouTube video, Dr. David Perlmutter examines the emerging correlation between glyphosate—the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup—and a rise in gut‑related autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes. He explains that glyphosate can alter the composition of the gut microbiome, leading to increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), which in turn creates a physiological environment conducive to autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. While acknowledging that correlation does not prove causation, Perlmutter highlights the recent World Health Organization (WHO) classification of glyphosate as a probable carcinogen, challenging prior assurances that glyphosate residues are safe. The overall message is a cautionary warning that widespread glyphosate exposure—especially via genetically modified foods—may have under‑appreciated health consequences.

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Lately we've seen a correlation drawn between the use of glyphosate, or the active ingredient in Roundup, and increased incidence of celiac disease, an autoimmune condition really centered on the gut. And while correlation does not mean causation, meaning we can't necessarily say that glyphosate is the cause of that, what we do understand about glyphosate, or Roundup, the active ingredient, is that it changes the microbiome. It changes the gut bacteria. And when you do that, you set the stage for leakiness of the gut, and that sets the stage for autoimmune conditions. So not only are we seeing higher rates of things like celiac disease and type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition, and really autoimmune conditions across the board, we're also seeing a higher rate of inflammatory conditions. Is it all necessarily from the increased usage of glyphosate because of genetically modified foods? Unclear, but I will say interestingly that just 2 weeks ago at the time of this recording, the World Health Organization came out and indicated that glyphosate residue or exposure is a probable carcinogen, meaning that all this time that we've been told that, hey, glyphosate is fine, it's okay if there are residues on our food, now according to the World Health Organization, we understand that that is not true.