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Scientists have uncovered the connection between food additives and the immune pathways in children which could mean it has a role in triggering childhood asthma. Specifically, they pinpointed sweeteners, colourants and preservatives as potential culprits exacerbating the condition.
Using cutting-edge metabolomics and mouse models, the researchers wanted to investigate whether the rise in childhood asthma was connected to the increased amount of additives appearing in children's diets.
These additives are present in countless ultra-processed foods, usually to enhance the flavour or look of the food item or to preserve its shelf life. Previous research has found that children consume more ultra-processed foods than adults, while also being more sensitive to the adverse effects of these manufactured ingredients.
Adverse effects of these ingredients can include allergies and a greater risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to News Medical. Specific additives have already been directly linked to certain additives, like sodium benzoate and skin allergies or asthma attacks and methylparaben.
It is already been proven that certain additives can trigger asthma. Some studies have even shown that women who consume more artificially sweetened noncarbonated drinks face a higher risk of having children with childhood asthma.
However, this new study, published in the Frontiers journal, reveals a potential reason why - the additives could be disrupting the metabolic and immune system pathways in children.
It followed 120 children with asthma and 120 control subjects, collecting serum samples from both groups and measuring the levels of 10 food additives in these samples.
The 10 additives and some of their top uses:
Neotame - a sweetener in candies, drinks, baked goods and more Aspartame - a sweetener in diet, low-fat and sugar-free items sodium saccharin - a sweetener in drinks, food and some medications ponceau 4R - a red food colouring Sucralose - a sweetener in candy, drinks and chewing gum benzoic acid - a preservative in food and medications Cyclamate - a sweetener in beverages, desserts and jams Acesulfame - a sweetener and flavour enhancer in baked goods Dehydroacetic acid - a preservative in skincare, food and personal care products Sunset yellow - a yellow food colouring
How much of each additive was found in the serum samples can reveal the exposure levels inside the body. Dehydroacetic acid, benzoic acid, and cyclamate were detected at the highest rates of 99.58%, 99.17%, and 69.17%, respectively.
In the asthmatic group, concentration levels of dehydroacetic and benzoic acids were significantly higher than those of the control group.
But the scientists also recognised a potential issue in the study as some additives, like aspartame, were poorly detected in the serum samples, not because the children weren't exposed to it, but because it is broken down quickly in the gut.
The researchers concluded: "Food additives may aggravate asthma by metabolically dysregulating the homeostasis of helper T-cells and antigen-presenting cells, thereby disrupting immune tolerance.