Cognitive and Behavioral Effects of Chronic Tartrazine Use in vivo: An Assessment Within and Above the Acceptable...

The use of dyes is a common practice in several industrial sectors to increase the attractiveness of the merchandise. Tartrazine is a synthetic yellow dye used in various food products; it contains an azo bond in its composition. The present study aimed to analyze whether the chronic consumption of Tartrazine promotes changes in cognitive and behavioral parameters in vivo. A total of 40 Wistar rats (50% male and 50% female) were divided into three experimental groups: control group (CG) (n = 16), group treated with a dose within the acceptable daily intake (ADI), corresponding to 7.5 mg/kg/day (NEG) (n = 16), and group treated above the recommended value at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day (AEG) (n = 8). Tartrazine was administered via gavage daily for 10 months. Finally, the rats were subjected to the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and object recognition test (OR) to evaluate their motor activity, anxiety, and long-term memory, respectively. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests, with a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant changes in locomotor behavior (p = 0.351) and anxiety levels (p = 0.305) of the animals in either group. However, the group treated within the ADI demonstrated impairment in long-term memory (p < 0.001). Given this, it can be considered that prolonged use of Tartrazine, even within the ADI value limits, can cause mild impairment of certain cognitive functions.