Does maternal exposure to artificial food coloring additives increase oxidative stress in the skin of rats?

Abstract

<jats:p> Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) metabolize and detoxify carcinogens, drugs, environmental pollutants, and reactive oxygen species. Changes of GST expression in tissues and gene mutations have been reported in association with many neoplastic skin diseases and dermatoses. Widely used artificial food coloring additives (AFCAs) also reported to effect primarily behavioral and cognitive function and cause neoplastic diseases and several inflammatory skin diseases. We aimed to identify the changes in expression of GSTs, CYP1A1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rat skin which were maternally exposed AFCAs. A rat model was designed to evaluate the effects of maternal exposure of AFCAs on skin in rats. “No observable adverse effect levels” of commonly used AFCAs as a mixture were given to female rats before and during gestation. Immunohistochemical expression of GSTs, CYP1A1, and VEGF was evaluated in their offspring. CYP1A1, glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP), glutathione S-transferase alpha (GSTA), glutathione S-transferase mu (GSTM), glutathione S-transferase theta (GSTT), and VEGF were expressed by epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, sebaceous glands, hair follicle, and subcutaneous striated muscle in the normal skin. CYP1A1, GSTA, and GSTT were expressed at all microanatomical sites of skin in varying degrees. The expressions of CYP1A1, GSTA, GSTT, and VEGF were decreased significantly, while GSTM expression on sebaceous gland and hair follicle was increased. Maternal exposure of AFCAs apparently effects expression of the CYP1A1, GSTs, and VEGF in the skin. This prominent change of expressions might play role in neoplastic and nonneoplastic skin diseases. </jats:p>

Food additives: distribution and co-occurrence in 126,000 food products of the French market

“…For instance, nitrates/nitrites [21][22][23] , carrageenans 24 , glutamate [25][26][27] , bixin 28,29 , artificial sweeteners [30][31][32][33][34] , phosphates 35,36 , emulsifiers [37][38][39] , caramel 40,41 , titanium dioxide (TiO2) 42 , tartrazine 43,44 and butylated hydroxyanisole/butylated hydroxytoluene (BHA/BHT) 43 were previously linked to metabolic, gut microbiota or endocrine perturbations along with carcinogenic, inflammatory and/or oxidative stress effects. Besides, some experimental results suggest that different additives may interact (among themselves and/or with the food matrix) and thus lead to synergistic or antagonist effects, but few studies have been performed on this topic to-date [45][46][47][48][49][50] .…”

Food additives: distribution and co-occurrence in 126 000 food products of the French market

“…For example, mixes of colorings with sodium benzoate (e211) were associated with increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children 45 . Neurotoxic effects were also observed between combinations of brilliant blue (e133) with L-glutamic acid (e620), and quinoline yellow (e104) with aspartame (e951) in vitro 46 and a mixture of food coloring additives increased oxidative stress in rats 47 . Future prospective studies and experimental research should investigate the effects of chronic exposures to these cocktails of food additives, as consumed in real life.…”

Distribution and patterns of use of food additives in foods and beverages available in Brazilian supermarkets

“…In vitro neurotoxic effects of a combination of bright blue colouring with glutamic acid and quinoline yellow colouring with aspartame have been observed 20 and a mix of colourings was shown to increase oxidative stress in rats. 21 In addition, a UK study assessing the exposure of 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children to drinks containing artificial colourings and sodium benzoate demonstrated significant adverse effects on hyperactive behavior. 11 This study has limitations.…”

“…[17][18][19] However, ultra-processed foods often contain a mix of food additives and little is known about the impact of these combinations on health. 11,20,21 In Brazil, the use of food additives is regulated by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), which sets out the types of food additives permitted by food category. The agency defines food additives as all and any ingredient intentionally added to food without the purpose of nourishment but to modify the physical, chemical, biological or sensory characteristics, during manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packaging, storage, transport or manipulation of food.…”