Bentonite Clay for Digestive Health

Research suggests that bentonite clay may offer several digestive health benefits, including binding harmful toxins like aflatoxins in the gut, reducing diarrhea severity, and potentially supporting a healthier cholesterol profile when combined with other natural compounds. Studies indicate it may also play a role in probiotic delivery by helping protective capsules survive stomach acid, and one case report documented clearance of a Clostridioides difficile infection following a naturopathic protocol that included bentonite clay alongside other treatments. The available evidence comes primarily from animal studies, in vitro laboratory experiments, and a single pediatric case report, with no randomized controlled trials or large human studies establishing effectiveness or safety for these uses in people. These findings are preliminary and directionally consistent, but the absence of rigorous human clinical research means conclusions about bentonite clay's digestive benefits should be held cautiously until more robust evidence is available.