Aidan A.P. Seminar: Lit Map Template by Aidan Shepherd

Artificial Food Dyes result in DNA damage and harm the microbiome

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Context + Introduction + Focus (Problem Statement)

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Since the 1920s, after the advent of Wonderbread, the first ultra-processed bread, the usage of artificial ingredients in our food has skyrocketed. However, the lack of research results in a lower awareness of the consequences across the globe. for example, artificial food dye red-40 (made from oil byproducts) has been found to damage DNA and cause inflammation.

Artificial Food Additives negatively impact the endocrine system

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Artificial Sweeteners Are somewhat toxic

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

4: Artificial food additives: hazardous to long-term health?

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

High intake of non-caloric sweeteners has been linked to cardiovascular disease and depression in adults and is linked to childhood obesity

6: Artificial sweeteners and risk of cardiovascular diseases: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Total artificial sweetener intake was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (1502 events, hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.18)

8: Artificial Preservatives and Their Harmful Effects: Looking toward Nature for Safer Alternatives

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Nitrates, upon ingestion, are converted to nitrites that can react with hemoglobin to produce methemoglobin, a substance that can cause loss of consciousness and death

2: The synthetic food dye, Red 40, causes DNA damage, causes colonic inflammation, and impacts the microbiome in mice

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Red-40 damages DNA both in vitro and in vivo.
Red-40 consumption in the presence of a high-fat diet leads to dysbiosis in mice.
Red-40 causes inflammation in the distal colon and rectum of the A/J mouse model.
Red-40 dysregulates key players involved in the development of EOCRC.
These show that Red 40 negatively impact the microbiome inside Mice.

9: Food Additives and Child Health

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Some chemicals mentioned by the source include

bisphenols, phthalates, nonpersistent pesticides, PFCs, and perchlorate. These additives are used throughout the manufacturing process to either process the packaging (which then leaks into the food) or used as a pesticide, meaning it is used to remove bugs. These artificial additives consistently at minimum, negatively impact the endocrine (waste management) system.

3: Toxicology of food dyes

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Three dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) have been found to be contaminated with benzidine or other carcinogens

1: Allura Red AC is a xenobiotic. Is it also a carcinogen?

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

While the scientific evidence is sparse, there is increasing independent evidence that this xenobiotic (Red-40) interacts with the mechanisms that control CRC (inflammation, DNA damage, and microbiome perturbations).

Research Question

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

What are the most common toxins in american food and how does it impact public health? (Science, Ethics, Cultural)

BIG TAKEAWAY

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Red-40, in addition to other food dyes approved by the FDA, are considered to damage human DNA. In addition, due to the manufacturing process (made from oil byproducts), they are contaminated with carcinogens. Thus, artificial food dyes in the US can be considered toxic.

Synthesis Post

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Artificial food additives consistantly have been demonstrated to impact the endocrine system negatively. For example, source 8 mentions that nitrates are converted into toxic chemicals that can result in death. However, source 9 mentions less extreme examples of negative impacts of artificial food additives, such as Endocrine disruption, and thyroid hormone surpression.

BIG TAKEAWAY

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Studies consistently show that artificial food additives authorized in the US negatively affect the human body. At a minimum, it could simply suppress internal hormones. However, certain artificial additives in extreme cases can result in loss of consciousness, or death. Thus, artificial additives added to the food of American citizens, whether it be through the manufacturing or production process, negatively impacts the body.

5: The Impact of Artificial Sweeteners on Human Health and Cancer Association: A Comprehensive Clinical Review

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Although multiple studies associate ASs with increased cancer risk, the majority of recent research data, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, show no link between the use of ASs and cancer risk

Synthesis Post

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

While Source 5 mentions that artificial sweeteners are not associated with cancer risk, Source 6 demonstrates that artificial sweeteners do increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, Source 4 mentions that artificial sweeteners are also associated with depression. This means that Artificial Sweeteners negatively impact the human body. However, the impact is less severe than of Artificial Food Dye

BIG TAKEAWAY

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Artificial Sweeteners are linked to a variety of negative effects such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and childhood obesity. This demonstrates that Artificial Sweeteners have a variety of negative impacts on the human body, however, they are likely less toxic then artificial food coloring. Thus, while they have a negative impact on Americans health, it should be a lower priority to resolve than artificial food dyes.

TRANSITION: CONNECTION FROM THEME TO THEME

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Just as Artificial food dyes, such as Allura red, negatively impact the human body. Artificial additives added during the manufacturing process also have negative implications on American citizens

TRANSITION: CONNECTION FROM THEME TO THEME

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

As artificial food additives are used consistently throughout the manufacturing process, it is nearly impossible to avoid due to the considerable amounts of ultra-processed food we eat, such as a simple piece of bread from the grocery store. However, an artificial ingredient that is much easier to avoid is sweeteners.

Synthesis Post

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Source 1 mentions that Allua Red interacts with mechanisms inside the microbiome, causing inflammation and DNA damage. This is akin to what source 2 notices inside the Mice. However, Source 1 primarily relies on observational studies while Source 2 is an experiment done on mice. Both perspectives are not sufficient to determine if Red-40 (Allura Red AC) is damaging to the human body. However, these two perspectives alluding to the same result increases the likelyhood that Red-40 is is toxic. The experiment has the benefit of being a heavily controlled environment with dissections done on the mice to provide more effective evidence, however, the impact on mice does not necessarily mean it caries over to humans. On the other hand, the observational study was done on humans. However, the environment is less controlled, meaning only an association could be noted. Both together, however, are sufficient to show a negative effect of Red-40

CONCLUSION

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

Artificial ingredients approved in the US have a variety of negative impacts on American citizens due to them either being toxic or containing leftover carcinogens from the manufacturing process. While some artificial ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners reduce calorie consumption and reduce adult obesity, they also are linked to cardiovascular disease and depression. One way to resolve consumption of artificial ingredients is to ban them and force the usage of more natural ingredients. While this method would result in the elimination of artificial ingredients, it would also prevent potential benefits such as reduced calorie consumption. A method that resolves this concern is to increase consumer awareness so they can weigh the pros and cons of using artificial ingredients. However, this solution is far less feasible than the first.

ROADMAP: Intro Themes

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-22 15:22:38 UTC

NOTICE: Each source criteria should be assumed to include direct quotations taken from the specified source in the annotated bibleography

Source 9 (not on annotated bibliography)

aidan_shepherd — 2025-01-29 14:39:19 UTC

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/2/e20181408/37584/Food-Additives-and-Child-Health?autologincheck=redirected