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Increased Use of Emulsifiers in Processed Foods and the Links to Obesity

Current Gastroenterology Reports volume 21, Article number: 61 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to discuss the implications of the increased prevalence of emulsifiers in processed foods in daily consumption, the links to obesity both in mice and in vitro studies, and how those findings correlate with humans.

Recent Findings

There is rising interest in understanding the contributors to the obesity epidemic. One potential component recently studied has been the consumption of processed foods causing inflammatory changes leading to metabolic syndrome. This phenomenon has been shown in several mice and in vitro studies with changes in microbiome composition, elevated fasting blood glucose, hyperphagia, increased weight gain and adiposity, hepatic steatosis increased inflammatory markers, and a correlation with increased incidence of colorectal cancer.

Summary

Emulsifiers are found in most foods consumed in the US population, which has increased over the years. This review focuses on understanding the initial approved safe levels of emulsifier consumption, the preceding increased use in foods with higher daily consumption than was previously tested, measuring these levels in animal models, and the positive association with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Future research will require prospectively studying emulsifier consumption more accurately along with the associated respective changes in the microbiome to determine the relationship to obesity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington, DC, USA

    Janese Laster

  2. Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA

    Sara L. Bonnes

  3. University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Jason Rocha

Authors
  1. Janese Laster
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  2. Sara L. Bonnes
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  3. Jason Rocha
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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Topical Collection on Nutrition and Obesity

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Laster, J., Bonnes, S.L. & Rocha, J. Increased Use of Emulsifiers in Processed Foods and the Links to Obesity. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 21, 61 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-019-0723-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-019-0723-4

Keywords

  • Emulsifier
  • Obesity
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Nutrition
  • Gut microbiome
  • Processed foods