Food colorings may be associated with intestinal inflammation.
Release date:
2023-09-20
A recent health study published in the journal Nature Communications found that long-term consumption of the common food coloring Allura Red induces mild intestinal inflammation in mice and increases the susceptibility of experimental models of inflammatory bowel disease to inflammation. The findings suggest the need for further research into the long-term health effects of food additives.
A recent health study published in the journal Nature Communications found that long-term consumption of the common food coloring Allura Red induces mild intestinal inflammation in mice and increases their susceptibility to inflammation in experimental models of inflammatory bowel disease. The findings suggest the need for further research into the long-term health effects of food additives.
Many foods and beverages contain additives that enhance shelf life, taste, color, and appearance. Some food additives have been shown to impair gut health in animal models, leading to colitis—a type of intestinal inflammation. Allura Red is a synthetic red food coloring used in certain breakfast cereals, beverages, and candied fruits.
Researchers at McMaster University in Canada found that long-term consumption (for 14 weeks) of a diet containing the food coloring Red 40—at levels comparable to those found in some human foods—induced mild intestinal inflammation in a group of mice. The researchers also observed that prolonged exposure to Red 40, over 12 consecutive weeks, increased the likelihood of colitis in an experimental mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease. The research team noted that the diet used in the study contained a fixed daily dose of Red 40 and was administered for an extended period, which may not be representative of the typical exposure experienced by individuals who occasionally consume foods or beverages containing this additive.
Importantly, mice that consumed a diet containing tartrazine intermittently for 12 weeks did not develop intestinal inflammation or colitis. The researchers noted that ingestion of tartrazine elevates serotonin levels, which can trigger intestinal inflammation. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that mediates signaling in the large intestine. They emphasized that further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of other food colorants on intestinal inflammation and to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.
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