Overconsumption of Common Red Food Dye May Lead to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

 

Allure Red AC, a synthetic dye found in popular foods like Skittles, Doritos, Gatorade, Jell-O, and Fruit Loops, has been linked to an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases (I-B D S) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis if consumed frequently.

The dye, also known as FD & C Red 40 and Food Red 17, is thought to have negative effects on gut health and increase inflammation, according to a small study done on laboratory mice.

The study, which was recently published in Nature Communications, found that the additive directly breaks the gut barrier, which helps keep bacteria from getting in, and that it also makes more serotonin, a hormone and neurotransmitter in the gut. According to the report, this reaction alters the microbiome of the gut, making people more likely to develop inflammatory bowel conditions.

What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye may be a dietary trigger for I-B D S, said senior author W-A L-I U L Khan, PhD, of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, who studies gastrointestinal inflammation.

In a press release, Dr Khan added, "This research is a significant advance in alerting the public on the potential harms of food dyes that we consume daily". During the 12-week experiment, six mice were fed a daily diet that did not contain the dye and six mice were fed a similar diet that contained the dye. Khan and his colleagues found a connection between exposure to the red color and changes in the gut microbiome, which led to mild inflammation in the intestines.

In addition, early-exposure mice were found to have a "heightened susceptibility" to colitis, also known as large-intestinal inflammation.

In a separate study, researchers fed six mice Red 40 intermittently for just one day a week for 12 weeks. The study's authors noted that the dye's intermittent consumption was "more akin to a typical human exposure" and had no effect on intestinal inflammation susceptibility

FD & C Red 40 Food Dye Has Long Been a Suspected Health Hazard

According to The New York Times, health officials had warned that the ingredient could pose a threat to public health as early as the 1970s. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can benefit from cutting out artificial food dyes from their diets.

Major public health groups have also said that the amount of the chemical dye in the average American diet is too low to be a threat. "Dietary exposure to Allure Red AC for children and all other age groups does not present a health concern", states the World Health Organization.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 32-ounce bottle of fruit punch Gatorade would account for approximately 10% of that daily limit for a person weighing approximately 130 pounds (PDF). It is used by food manufacturers in confections, snacks, soft drinks, cereals, condiments, ice cream, baked goods, fruit juices, and cosmetics

What Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Khan emphasized that although the precise causes of IBD are not yet fully understood, a number of factors, including imbalances in the gut microbiota, disturbances in the immune system, and environmental factors, may be involved.

According to Khan, the typical Western diet, which includes processed fats, red and processed meats, sugar, and a lack of fiber, is one of the environmental triggers of IBD. He went on to say that processed foods and the Western diet both contain a lot of dyes and additives.

In light of this study's outcomes, Khan recommended that the connection between normally utilized food colors and IBD warrants further investigation