PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Food Additives”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Etiology of Crohn's disease: Do certain food additives cause intestinal inflammation by molecular mimicry of mycobacterial lipids?

Crohn's disease is a chronic granulomatous inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract which was first described in the beginning of the 20th century. The histological similarity with intestinal tuberculosis has led to the assumption of an involvement of mycobacteria and mycobacterial antigens, respectively, in the etiology. A major defense mechanism against mycobacterial lipid antigens is the CD1 system which includes CD1 molecules for antigen presentation and natural killer T cells for recognition and subsequent production of cytokines like interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. These cytokines promote granulomatous transformation. Various food additives, especially emulsifiants, thickeners, surface-finishing agents and contaminants like plasticizers share structural domains with mycobacterial lipids. It is therefore hypothesized, that these compounds are able to stimulate by molecular mimicry the CD1 system in the gastrointestinal mucosa and to trigger the pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade. The understanding of Crohn's disease as a CD1-mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity to certain food additives would lead to strong emphasis on a dietary treatment. Related aspects of pathology, physiology and epidemiology of Crohn's disease are presented.

Colitis↗

Micronucleus tests in mice on 39 food additives and eight miscellaneous chemicals.

A total of 47 chemical substances including 32 synthetic food additives, seven additives from natural sources, three trihalogenated methanes, two fluoro-compounds for dental use, one insecticide, and two other compounds were subjected to the micronucleus test in mice. Five compounds, i.e. chlorine dioxide, maltol, potassium bromate, sodium chlorite and sodium dehydroacetate, were found to induce micronuclei after a single ip injection. Potassium bromate, sodium chlorite and sodium dehydroacetate were tested further by oral administration, and potassium bromate showed a clearly positive result. Almost all the compounds which were negative with the single treatment were additionally tested by four or five multiple treatments, but none showed any indication of micronucleus induction.

Animals↗

Safety evaluation of substances consumed as technical ingredients (food additives).

The different types of acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) are described as used by the FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the EEC Scientific Committee for Food (SCF). The allocation is discussed of a full ADI or a temporary ADI, and examples are given for the establishment (or withdrawal) of these ADIs. The flavours cinnamyl anthranillate and the solvent 2-nitropropane (both withdrawn), the sweeteners cyclamate and saccharin and the antioxidant BHA (all three changed) but not abolished. For BHA and saccharin the ADI was retained by both committees in spite of some evidence of carcinogenicity to experimental animals. ADI--'not specified' is specially discussed and it is recommended that numerical ADIs are used whenever possible. With an ADI--'not specified' it should be stated which use (and intake) levels are toxicologically acceptable. Some compounds evaluated by the two committees are discussed, e.g. the colours: Allura red AC, erythrosine, canthaxanthin and the caramels; three anti-oxidants: BHA, BHT and the gallates; the sweeteners: polyols, aspartame, saccharin and cyclamates. Four recommendations are made: (1) a numerical basis be given for the levels allocated an ADI--'not specified' or 'acceptable'; (2) lowering of the conventional safety factor be considered when the effects found are trivial--higher safety factors be considered when the toxic effects are serious or even irreversible; (3) ADIs should, whenever possible, be based on a combination of human and animal data; (4) ADIs might be allocated to compounds indicating animal carcinogenicity, if the compound is non-genotoxic, the mechanism clearly secondary and/or species-specific.

Animals↗

[Effective prevention through nutritional and food additives: barriers and resistance].

The population-wide and individual preventive potentials of nutritional and food additives such as vitamins and trace elements are generally accepted in the international literature. Iodisation and fluoridation were and are a main focus of activity. The enrichment of food with folic acid is also partly population-related. Until now, however, the theoretical possibilities of nutritional supplementations have not been fully exploited. Various barriers and resistances arise in programme development and implementation. Interviews with key stakeholders and community groups can clarify decade-long discussions in the literature and the media. The study on hand is based on a structural analysis. It shows the various arguments as well as beneficial and impeding factors for a population-wide prevention programme, for specific target groups and individuals. The findings of this research could also be applied to other Public Health challenges.

Attitude to Health↗

[Analysis of components in natural food additive "grapefruit seed extract" by HPLC and LC/MS].

The components in a commercial natural food additive "Grapefruit seed extract" and the ethanol extract of grapefruit seeds were analyzed by HPLC and LC/MS. The HPLC chromatogram of the commercial grapefruit seed extract was quite different from that of the ethanol extract of grapefruit seeds. Three main peaks were observed in the chromatogram of the commercial grapefruit seed extract. By comparison of the retention times and the absorption spectra with those of authentic samples, two peaks were ascribed to methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate and 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenylether (triclosan). Triclosan was also identified by LC/MS by using the negative electrospray ionization method.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Evidence for the safety of gum tragacanth (Asiatic Astragalus spp.) and modern criteria for the evaluation of food additives.

Gum tragacanth (GT), affirmed as GRAS within the USA since 1961, was evaluated as 'ADI not specified' by JECFA in 1985. Within the EEC, GT has been permitted temporarily as a food additive (E413), without an ADI, since 1974; a decision regarding its permanent status must be reached before the end of 1988. This review collates the dietary, toxicological, immunological and chemical data available and presents the pre-requisite data concerning the 'Need' and low levels of utilization of GT.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Cutaneous vasculitis induced by food additives.

A case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a 24-year-old woman is described. A severe eruption of vasculitis occurred after placebo-controlled oral challenge with 50 mg ponceau. The patient was asked to adhere to a diet free from food additives, and the vasculitis faded after a period of 2 months.

Adult↗

Influence of four Nigerian food additives on the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1.

The mutagenicity of aqueous extracts of four Nigerian food additives namely Xylopia aethiopica (Xa), Monodora species (Ms); fermented Litrillus lanatus-ogiri (Og) and fermented Parikia africans (African locust bean)-Iru (Ir) alone and in combination with different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (0.05 microgram-0.25 micrograms) in the presence and absence of fecalase was studied using the Ames' salmonella mutagenicity assay system. Preliminary screening tests show the tester strain TA98 to be the most sensitive of the four tester strains (TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102) screened. The most mutagenic of the doses of the extracts are 3mg each of Xa and Ms per plate and 5mg each of Og and Ir per plate. A combination of these doses with different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 resulted in an enhanced mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1. The increases could not be accounted for by additive mutagenicity of the extracts and aflatoxin B1. Fecalase further increased the effects resulting from these combinations with the exception of Xa which showed a decrease in mutagenic induction. The increase may be indicative of the presence of some mutagenic glycosides in the extracts.

Adult↗

The metabolism of some food additives related to piperonal in the rabbit.

1. The metabolism of piperonylidene acetone, and the food additives piperonyl acetone, piperonyl acetate and piperonyl isobutyrate were studied in male rabbits after oral doses of 100 mg/kg. 2. Both piperonylidene acetone and piperonyl acetone were extensively excreted as 4-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-butan-2-ol to the extent of 71.5% and 81.5% dose respectively in the three-day urine. 3. The esters, piperonyl acetate and piperonyl isobutyrate, were both metabolized to piperonylic acid, to the extent of 70.5% and 11.4% of dose respectively, in the three-day urine.

Animals↗

Genetic activity of the antimicrobial food additives AF-2 and H-193 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The genetic activity of the antimicrobial food additives AF-2 and H-193 has been investigated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The strains chosen for the present studies were D5 for the induction of mitotic recombinational events and XV185-14C for the induction of reversion of the mutants lys1-1, his1-7 and homs3-7. When three concentrations (25, 50 and 100 mug/ml) of AF-2 were used in the reversion system of strain XV185-14C, there was an increase in the frequency of hom+ and his+ revertants as a function of incubation time, while the lysine mutant exhibited a very low frequency of induced reversion. When AF-2 and H-193 were compared at the same concentration and exposure time, AF-2 exhibited a higher genetic activity in both systems than H-193. However, H-193 was genetically more active in inducing revertants than AF-2, when the comparison was made at the same survival level. Cells of both haploid and diploid strains were found to be more sensitive to inactivation by AF-2 than by H-193 It should be pointed out that the solubility of H-193 was lower (about 4 mug/ml saturation) than the solubility of AF-2 (120 mug/ml saturation). The haploid strain was more sensitive to both compounds than the diploid strain.

Acrylamides↗

Oro-facial granulomatosis. Response to elemental diet and provocation by food additives.

We report the case of an 8.5-year-old girl with oro-facial granulomatosis associated with clinical atopy, in whom relapse of her granulomatous disorder was shown to be related to exposure to specific food additives, viz. carmoisine, sunset yellow and monosodium glutamate. Treatment with a restricted diet resulted in considerable regression in the facial swelling which has been maintained for 6 months. A brief account of the histological features, both under light and electron microscopy, is given, together with a description of the use of nuclear magnetic resonance scanning in the assessment of this disease. The patient had no evidence to support a diagnosis of sarcoidosis or Crohn's disease.

Child↗

Nutritional transition during infancy in East Java, Indonesia: 2. A longitudinal study of growth in relation to the intake of breast milk and additional foods.

Weight and length of infants, born in two villages in Madura, East Java were measured longitudinally from birth to 12 months (n = 391). In a sub-sample (n = 76) the intake of breast milk and additional foods during 48 h were also measured. The shape of the weight curve of Madurese infants is comparable to that of healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants in the UK and US during the first 6 months of life, in spite of the custom to force-feed from as early as the first week. The use of a more 'appropriate' growth curve of exclusively breast-fed, healthy infants instead of the NCHS reference failed to define more accurately the age at which growth faltering starts. It is recommended to use weight increments as an indicator of the onset of growth faltering. Breast milk intake correlated significantly with attained weight. However, it explains only a small percentage of the variation in weight, viz. 12-24 per cent. There was no correlation between energy or protein intake from breast milk and additional foods and weight gain.

Breast Feeding↗

[Irritable colon syndrome in intolerance to food additives].

The rate of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the follow-up of its symptoms on diet and in therapy with disodium cromoglycate have been studied in a group of patients suffering from mainly extra-digestive symptoms related to food intolerance. Following our observation, we can draw the conclusion that food additives intolerance may be a major factor in the pathogenesis of IBS.

Adolescent↗

Excitotoxic food additives--relevance of animal studies to human safety.

Evidence is reviewed supporting the view that excitotoxic food additives pose a significant hazard to the developing nervous system of young children. The following points are stressed: (1) although blood-brain barriers protect most central neurons from excitotoxins, certain brain regions lack such protection (a characteristic common to all vertebrate species); (2) regardless of species, it requires only a transient increase in blood excitotoxin levels for neurons in unprotected brain regions to be "silently" destroyed; (3) humans may be at particularly high risk for this kind of brain damage, since ingestion of a given amount of excitotoxin causes much higher blood excitotoxin levels in humans than in other species; (4) in addition to the heightened risk on a species basis, risk may be further increased for certain consumer sub-populations due to youth, disease or genetic factors; (5) despite these reasons for maintaining a wide margin of safety in the use of excitotoxins in foods, no safety margin is currently being observed, i.e., a comparative evaluation of animal (extensive) and human (limited) data supports the conclusion that excitotoxins, as used in foods today, may produce blood elevations high enough to cause damage to the nervous system of young children, damage which is not detectable at the time of occurrence but which may give rise to subtle disturbances in neuroendocrine function in adolescence and/or adulthood.

Administration, Oral↗