A new study reveals that consumption of emulsifiers commonly found in ultra-processed foods during pregnancy or lactation in mice is associated with mild metabolic, cognitive and psychological impairments in offspring. . This study specifically notes that such consumption affects the development of neural circuits in the offspring’s hypothalamus, which are important for metabolism.
This research shows that mothers need to be aware of the risks associated with ultra-processed foods.
A new study in mice shows that consumption of emulsifiers, a common ingredient in highly processed foods, in pregnant or lactating humans is associated with mild health risks in offspring. Masu. María Mira-Guache, of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IDIBAPS) in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues recently published the findings in a journal. PLOS biology.
Emulsifiers help preserve the texture of many ultra-processed foods, including some ice creams, breads, cake mixes, soups, salad dressings, and more. Previous studies have linked emulsifier consumption to an increased risk of intestinal inflammation, obesity, and other health conditions. Furthermore, unbalanced nutritional habits of pregnant or lactating mothers are associated with long-term health risks for their offspring. However, the specific effects of maternal ingestion of emulsifiers on offspring are unknown.
To clarify these effects, Milà-Guasch et al. fed laboratory mice water containing two emulsifiers, carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate 80, which are commonly blended together in human food. From pre-pregnancy until lactation, female mice received the maximum concentration of each emulsifier allowed for human food by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. For comparison, other mice were given emulsifier-free water.
Most of the ultra-processed foods consumed today contain emulsifiers in their composition. Credit: Júlia Fos-Domènech & Maria Milà-Guasch (CC-BY 4.0)
The researchers found that the offspring of mice that ingested emulsifiers were at increased risk of certain health problems, including mild metabolic, cognitive and psychological disorders. These effects were strongest in male offspring, but defects were also seen in female offspring.
Combining gene expression studies with other laboratory tests, maternal ingestion of emulsifiers disrupts the development of neural circuits in the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that plays a central role in regulating metabolism) in offspring. was suggested.
Additional research will be needed to further clarify the effects of emulsifier intake by pregnant and lactating individuals on their offspring. Still, researchers are calling for increased awareness of the potential risks of mothers consuming ultra-processed foods, based on their new findings. They expressed particular concern about products perceived to be healthy, such as certain vegetarian and vegan products, but these products have the potential to pose health risks to offspring. Contains a strong emulsifier.
Co-author Marc Claret added, “Maternal ingestion of emulsifiers may affect children’s health, promoting mild metabolic disorders, anxiety-like states, and cognitive deficits.”
Reference: “Metabolic and neuropsychological health of offspring by maternal emulsifier consumption program in mice” Maria Milà-Guasch, Sara Ramírez, Sergio R. Llana, Júlia Fos-Domènech, Lea Maria Dropmann, Macarena Pozo, Elena Eyre, Alicia By G. Gómez-Valadés, Arnaud Obry, Roberta Haddad-Tvoli, Mark Claret, 24 August 2023, PLOS biology.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002171
This work was funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement number 725004) and under the LCF/PR/HR19/52160016 agreement “la Caixa” Supported by the Foundation (ID100010434) and CERCA. Program/Government of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia (to MC); Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF) NEUROPREG (Grant Agreement No. 891247; to RH-T); Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Juan de la Cierva Fellowship (SR from IJC2018-037341-I). Miguel Servet Contract (CP19/00083) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III co-financed with ERDF (to AO). Funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, publication decisions, and manuscript preparation.
