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Common dietary emulsifiers promote metabolic disorders and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in mice
Suraphan Panyod1,2,3, Wei-Kai Wu3,4,5,6, Chih-Ting Chang1
1Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract:
Dietary emulsifiers are linked to various diseases. The recent discovery of the role of gut microbiota-host interactions on health and disease warrants the safety reassessment of dietary emulsifiers through the lens of gut microbiota. Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and mono- and diglycerides (MDG) emulsifiers are common dietary emulsifiers with high exposure levels in the population. This study demonstrates that sucrose fatty acid esters and carboxymethylcellulose induce hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in a mouse model. Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, and CMC disrupt glucose homeostasis in the in vitro insulin-resistance model. MDG impairs circulating lipid and glucose metabolism. All emulsifiers change the intestinal microbiota diversity and induce gut microbiota dysbiosis. Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, and CMC do not impact mucus-bacterial interactions, whereas MDG tends to cause bacterial encroachment into the inner mucus layer and enhance inflammation potential by raising circulating lipopolysaccharide. Our findings demonstrate the safety concerns associated with using dietary emulsifiers, suggesting that they could lead to metabolic syndromes.
Insights
Common dietary emulsifiers like lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and mono- and diglycerides (MDG) disrupt gut microbiota and metabolic health, potentially leading to diseases.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metabolic Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Dietary emulsifiers are widely used food additives.
- Emerging research highlights the gut microbiota's role in health and disease.
- A safety reassessment of emulsifiers considering gut microbiota interactions is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of common dietary emulsifiers on gut microbiota and host metabolism.
- To evaluate the safety of lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and mono- and diglycerides (MDG).
Main Methods:
- In vivo mouse models to assess hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose homeostasis.
- In vitro insulin-resistance models.
- Analysis of gut microbiota diversity and composition.
- Assessment of mucus-bacterial interactions and lipopolysaccharide levels.
Main Results:
- Sucrose fatty acid esters and CMC induced hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in mice.
- Lecithin, sucrose fatty acid esters, and CMC disrupted glucose homeostasis in vitro.
- MDG impaired lipid and glucose metabolism.
- All tested emulsifiers altered gut microbiota diversity, causing dysbiosis.
- MDG promoted bacterial encroachment into the mucus layer and increased inflammation markers.
Conclusions:
- Dietary emulsifiers pose safety concerns regarding metabolic health.
- Emulsifier-induced gut dysbiosis may contribute to the development of metabolic syndromes.
- Specific emulsifiers like MDG may exacerbate inflammation through gut barrier disruption.
