Skittles, Doritos, Gatorade, Jell-O, Fruit Loops, and many other top-selling food products contain a synthetic dye called Allura Red AC, which, if consumed too often, can increase the likelihood of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease. disease and ulcerative colitis.
A small study involving lab mice suggests that frequent and long-term exposure to the dye (also called FD&C Red 40 and Food Red 17) damages gut health and promotes inflammation.
Recently published in The nature of communicationResearch has found that the additive directly disrupts the gut barrier (which helps prevent bacteria from entering) and increases the production of serotonin, a hormone and neurotransmitter found in the gut. This response alters the gut microbiome, leading to an increased susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease, according to the report.
“What we found is surprising and alarming because this common synthetic food coloring is a possible dietary trigger of IBD,” said lead study author Waliul Khan, PhD, who researches gastrointestinal inflammation at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
“This research is a significant step forward in alerting the public to the potential harm of the food dyes we consume every day,” added Dr. Khan in a press release.
In the 12-week experiment, six mice were fed a daily control diet without dye, while six mice were given a similar diet with dye. Khan and his colleagues observed a link between exposure to the color red and disturbances in the gut microbiome that caused mild intestinal inflammation.
Furthermore, mice exposed at an early age were found to have an “increased susceptibility” to colitis, or inflammation of the colon.
In a separate experiment, researchers intermittently exposed six mice to Red 40 through their diet just one day a week for 12 weeks. The study authors noted that intermittent consumption of the dye was “more similar to typical human exposure” and did not affect susceptibility to intestinal inflammation.
The food dye FD&C Red 40 has long been a suspected health risk
This latest study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Red 40 may be harmful to health. As far back as the 1970s, health experts warned that this ingredient could pose a risk to public health. The New York Times.
One of the most common concerns about artificial food coloring is its effect on children’s behavior. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, removing artificial food dyes from the diet of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may help reduce their symptoms.
Major public health groups have concluded that the amount of the chemical dye in the average diet is too low to pose a threat. The World Health Organization writes that “dietary exposure to Allura Red AC in children and all other age groups does not pose a health problem.” The US Food and Drug Administration has also approved Allura Red AC for human consumption.
The recommended daily intake should not exceed 3.2 milligrams per pound of a person’s body weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PDF), for a person weighing about 130 pounds, a 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade fruit punch would be about 10 percent of that daily limit.
Red dye is ubiquitous in processed foods. Food manufacturers use it in candies, snacks, sodas, soft drinks, and cereals, as well as in spices, ice creams, baked goods, fruit juices, and cosmetics.
What causes inflammatory bowel disease?
Khan stressed that the exact causes of IBD are still not fully understood, but several factors may be involved, including gut microbiota imbalance, immune system disruption and environmental factors.
Environmental triggers for IBD include the typical Western diet, which Khan says includes processed fats, red and processed meats, sugar and a lack of fiber. He added that the Western diet and processed foods also include a large number of different additives and dyes.
Based on the results of this study, Khan suggested that the link between commonly used food dyes and IBD warrants further investigation.
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