Food additives, contaminants and other minor components: effects on human gut microbiota—a review

Abstract

Gut bacteria play an important role in several metabolic processes and human diseases, such as obesity and accompanying co-morbidities, such as fatty liver disease, insulin resistance/diabetes, and cardiovascular events. Among other factors, dietary patterns, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and non-dietary factors, such as stress, age, exercise, and climatic conditions, can dramatically impact the human gut microbiota equilibrium and diversity. However, the effect of minor food constituents, including food additives and trace contaminants, on human gut microbiota has received less attention. Consequently, the present review aimed to provide an objective perspective of the current knowledge regarding the impacts of minor food constituents on human gut microbiota and consequently, on human health.

Dietary Exposures to Common Emulsifiers and Their Impact on the Gut Microbiota: Is There a Cause for Concern?

“…The gut microbiota is heavily influenced by the diet (Glade & Meguid, ; Roca‐Saavedra et al., ; Yasmin et al., ). A recent review by Roca‐Saavedra et al.…”

“…A recent review by Roca‐Saavedra et al. () discussed the influence of various dietary components, including food additives (non‐nutritive sweeteners, essential oils, food emulsifiers) and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and their effect on the gut microbiota. Roca‐Saavedra et al.…”

“…The gut microbiota is heavily influenced by the diet (Glade & Meguid, 2018;Roca-Saavedra et al, 2018;Yasmin et al, 2017). A recent review by Roca-Saavedra et al (2018) discussed the influence of various dietary components, including food additives (non-nutritive sweeteners, essential oils, food emulsifiers) and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and their effect on the gut microbiota.…”

“…The gut microbiota is heavily influenced by the diet (Glade & Meguid, 2018;Roca-Saavedra et al, 2018;Yasmin et al, 2017). A recent review by Roca-Saavedra et al (2018) discussed the influence of various dietary components, including food additives (non-nutritive sweeteners, essential oils, food emulsifiers) and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and their effect on the gut microbiota. Roca-Saavedra et al (2018) noted that these dietary factors have significant impacts on the human gut microbiota, and changes in gut microbiota equilibrium may lead to development of adverse physiological conditions (e.g., metabolic disease) by affecting food intake, vitamin/nutrient absorption, and fatty acid oxidation.…”

“…It is estimated that the class of emulsifiers constitute approximately 75% of all approved food ingredients on the global market (Shah et al., ). Thus, due to their ubiquitous presence in the food supply, emulsifiers have been postulated to be contributors to the increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases and specifically obesity and Type 1 and 2 diabetes, and irritable bowel disease (IBD) (Chassaing et al., ; Chassaing, Van de Wiele, De Bodt, Marzorati, & Gewirtz, ; Glade & Meguid, ; Roca‐Saavedra et al., ). In fact, recent studies have suggested that consumption of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and/or polysorbate 80 (P80) may damage the mucosal layer and allow bacteria to cross the epithelial surface, ultimately leading to the development to metabolic disease (Chassaing et al., , ).…”