Impact of the Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) on Gut Microbiota-Host Interaction

Title	Impact of the Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) on Gut Microbiota-Host Interaction
Authors	Gabriela Pinget, Jian Tan, Bartlomiej Janac, Nadeem O. Kaakoush, Alexandra Sophie Angelatos, John O'Sullivan, Yen Chin Koay, Frederic Sierro, Joel Davis, Shiva Kamini Divakarla, Dipesh Khanal, Robert J. Moore, Dragana Stanley, Wojciech Chrzanowski, Laurence Macia
Magazine	Frontiers in Nutrition
Date	05/14/2019
DOI	10.3389/fnut.2019.00057
Introduction	The relationship between gut microbiota and the host is crucial for maintaining health. Changes in gut microbiota and inflammation are common in non-communicable diseases. While diet significantly affects gut microbiota, the influence of food additives such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), common in processed foods, is not well understood. This study assessed the effects of food-grade TiO2 on the gut microbiota of mice, administered through drinking water. Although TiO2 had a limited effect on microbiota composition in the small intestine and colon, it altered bacterial metabolite release in vivo and promoted biofilm formation in vitro. Additionally, TiO2 reduced the expression of the colonic mucin 2 gene and increased the beta defensin gene expression, indicating a significant impact on gut homeostasis. These changes led to colonic inflammation, marked by decreased crypt length, CD8+ T cell infiltration, increased macrophages, and elevated inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these findings suggest that TiO2 disrupts gut homeostasis, potentially increasing disease susceptibility.
Quote	Gabriela Pinget, Jian Tan and Bartlomiej Janac et al. Impact of the Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) on Gut Microbiota-Host Interaction. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2019. Vol. 6. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00057
Element	Titanium (Ti)
Materials	Oxides