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Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Food Additives: To Add Fuel on the Flames!
Marion-Letellier, R, Amamou, A, Savoye, G, Ghosh, S
Nutrients. 2019;11(5)
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Plain language summary
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are becoming increasingly common. Diet is thought to play a role in the development of IBDs. The consumption of Ultra Processed Food (UPF) is increasing and has been associated with a higher risk of some chronic diseases. Food additives may be an aspect of UPF responsible for its harmful effects. This literature review examined the role of food additives in the development and severity of IBDs. The authors discuss how common food additives such as salt, emulsifiers, stabilisers, bulking agents, sweeteners, and food colouring may promote inflammation and disrupt gut bacteria. Metals and compounds found in food packaging such as aluminium and bisphenol A (BPA) may trigger intestinal permeability and increase inflammatory markers. Much of the evidence available is based on clinical trials on animals, whilst epidemiological studies on food additives and IBD risk are still limited. The authors concluded that the majority of food consumed by IBD patients should be home-cooked in order to reduce exposure to additives in the diet.
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) develop in genetically predisposed individuals in response to environmental factors. IBDs are concomitant conditions of industrialized societies, and diet is a potential culprit. Consumption of ultra-processed food has increased over the last decade in industrialized countries, and epidemiological studies have found associations between ultra-processed food consumption and chronic diseases. Further studies are now required to identify the potential culprit in ultra-processed food, such as a poor nutritional composition or the presence of food additives. In our review, we will focus on food additives, i.e., substances from packaging in contact with food, and compounds formed during production, processing, and storage. A literature search using PubMed from inception to January 2019 was performed to identify relevant studies on diet and/or food additive and their role in IBDs. Manuscripts published in English from basic science, epidemiological studies, or clinical trials were selected and reviewed. We found numerous experimental studies highlighting the key role of food additives in IBD exacerbation but epidemiological studies on food additives on IBD risk are still limited. As diet is a modifiable environmental risk factor, this may offer a scientific rationale for providing dietary advice for IBD patients.
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Effect of the artificial sweetener, sucralose, on small intestinal glucose absorption in healthy human subjects.
Ma, J, Chang, J, Checklin, HL, Young, RL, Jones, KL, Horowitz, M, Rayner, CK
The British journal of nutrition. 2010;104(6):803-6
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Recent animal-based studies have shown that the artificial sweetener, sucralose, stimulates glucose absorption by enhancing apical availability of the transporter GLUT2 [is a transmembrane carrier protein that enables protein facilitated glucose movement across cell membranes]. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether exposure of the proximal small intestine to sucralose affects the subsequent response to glucose in terms of the rate of glucose absorption and the glycaemic response. This study is a randomised, single-blind, cross-over design study for which ten healthy subjects (eight males and two females) were enrolled and studied twice. Results indicate that: - there was no difference in baseline glucose concentrations between the two study days. - there was no difference in baseline glucagon-like peptide-1 [a hormone produced in the gut and released in response to food] concentrations between the two study days. - intraduodenal administration of sucralose has no effect on the rate of glucose absorption from the lumen of the small intestine. Authors conclude that acute intraduodenal administration of sucralose does not enhance the absorption of glucose from the small intestine or increase blood glucose or plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations in healthy human subjects.
Abstract
It has been reported that the artificial sweetener, sucralose, stimulates glucose absorption in rodents by enhancing apical availability of the transporter GLUT2. We evaluated whether exposure of the proximal small intestine to sucralose affects glucose absorption and/or the glycaemic response to an intraduodenal (ID) glucose infusion in healthy human subjects. Ten healthy subjects were studied on two separate occasions in a single-blind, randomised order. Each subject received an ID infusion of sucralose (4 mM in 0.9% saline) or control (0.9% saline) at 4 ml/min for 150 min (T = - 30 to 120 min). After 30 min (T = 0), glucose (25 %) and its non-metabolised analogue, 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG; 2.5 %), were co-infused intraduodenally (T = 0-120 min; 4.2 kJ/min (1 kcal/min)). Blood was sampled at frequent intervals. Blood glucose, plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and serum 3-OMG concentrations increased during ID glucose/3-OMG infusion (P < 0.005 for each). However, there were no differences in blood glucose, plasma GLP-1 or serum 3-OMG concentrations between sucralose and control infusions. In conclusion, sucralose does not appear to modify the rate of glucose absorption or the glycaemic or incretin response to ID glucose infusion when given acutely in healthy human subjects.