Red food dye promotes inflammation in the gut, altering the gut microbiota.
Exposure to a dye found in many commonly consumed foods may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases, a new study finds. The dye impairs gut barrier function and increases serotonin production, altering the gut microbiota.
Researchers fed mice either normal mouse chow or mouse chow that contained a red food dye called Allura Red for 12 weeks and assessed their gut health. Allura Red, also known as FD&C Red 40 or Food Red 17, is used in many food products, including candy, soft drinks, dairy products, and some breakfast cereals.
The researchers found that exposure to the dye when the mice were young heightened the animals' susceptibility to colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease) later in life. Mice that developed colitis had higher gut serotonin levels and impaired gut barrier function.
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Elevated gut serotonin promotes gut inflammation and is a common feature of inflammatory bowel diseases. Impaired gut barrier function drives intestinal permeability (also known as “leaky gut”) – a condition in which gaps form between the cells that line the gut. Intestinal permeability allows pathogens to leak through the intestinal barrier and pass directly into the bloodstream, promoting inflammation.
The findings from this study suggest that exposure to a commonly used food additive increases the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease by promoting intestinal permeability. Read more about intestinal permeability in our overview article.