Wagner, R. ; Buettner, J.* ; Heni, M. ; Fritsche, L. ; Kullmann, S. ; Wagmüller, M.* ; Peter, A. ; Preissl, H. ; Machann, J. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Pape, U.F.* ; van Hall, G.* ; Plomgaard, P.* ; Häring, H.-U. ; Fritsche, A. ; Thompson, K.N.* ; Klein, R.* ; Stefan, N.
Carrageenan and insulin resistance in humans: A randomised double-blind cross-over trial.
BMC Med. 22:558 (2024)
BACKGROUND: The potential impact of specific food additives, common in Western diets, on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is not well understood. This study focuses on carrageenan, a widely used food additive known to induce insulin resistance and gut inflammation in animal models, and its effects on human health. METHODS: In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial conducted at a university hospital metabolic study centre, 20 males (age 27.4 ± 4.3 years, BMI 24.5 ± 2.5 kg/m2) participated. The intervention involved oral intake of carrageenan (250 mg) or placebo in the morning and in the evening and each intervention lasted 2 weeks. The primary outcome measured was insulin sensitivity (using oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] and hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp). Additional end-points included whole body and hepatic insulin sensitivity, MRI-measured brain inflammation and insulin resistance, intestinal permeability (via lactulose-mannitol test and plasma zonulin levels), and gut microbiome composition. Immune-cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured. RESULTS: Overall insulin sensitivity did not show significant differences between the treatments. However, interactions between BMI and treatment were observed (OGTT-based insulin sensitivity index: p=0.04, fasting insulin resistance: p=0.01, hepatic insulin sensitivity index: p=0.04). In overweight participants, carrageenan exposure resulted in lower whole body and hepatic insulin sensitivity, a trend towards increased brain inflammation, and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 levels compared to placebo. Additionally, carrageenan was associated with increased intestinal permeability. In vitro natural killer (NK-)cell activation and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine release were found after carrageenan exposure in the participant's peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that carrageenan, a common food additive, may contribute to insulin resistance and subclinical inflammation in overweight individuals through pro-inflammatory mechanisms in the gut. Further investigation into the long-term health impacts of carrageenan and other food additives is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02629705.
Impact Factor
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Times Cited
Scopus
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Carrageenan ; Emulsifiers ; Gut Microbiome ; Insulin Sensitivity ; Intestinal Permeability ; Type 2 Diabetes; Intestinal Permeability; Barrier Function; Zonulin; Cells; Emulsifiers; Consumption; Inhibition; Colitis
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2024
Prepublished im Jahr
0
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2024
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1741-7015
e-ISSN
1741-7015
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 22,
Heft: 1,
Seiten: ,
Artikelnummer: 558
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
BioMed Central
Verlagsort
Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9xw, England
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
90000 - German Center for Diabetes Research
30201 - Metabolic Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Helmholtz Diabetes Center
PSP-Element(e)
G-502400-001
G-502200-001
Förderungen
State of Baden-Wurttemberg
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Projekt DEAL
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2024-11-28