Is titanium dioxide edible?

Titanium dioxide is a very common food additive. As we all know, many foods contain various additives. Different additives usually have different effects. If titanium dioxide is consumed for a long time, it will also have a certain impact on human health. For example, it will reduce people's ability to resist bacteria and disease, which can easily make people sick. Try to eat less food containing titanium dioxide.

Is titanium dioxide edible?

Edible titanium dioxide is edible, but although this common food additive is considered non-toxic, long-term intake of it may damage the ability of human small intestinal cells to absorb nutrients and resist pathogens.

Although titanium dioxide, a common food additive, is considered non-toxic, long-term intake may also damage the absorption of nutrients by human small intestinal cells.

nutrients and the ability to resist germs.

Researchers from Binghamton University and other institutions in the United States published a report in the latest issue of the academic journal "Nano Impact" saying that they used small intestinal cells cultured in the laboratory to simulate the impact of titanium dioxide particles with a diameter of about 30 nanometers on the intestines. For example, intestinal cells were exposed to the amount of titanium dioxide particles contained in one meal of food for 4 hours to simulate acute exposure; and intestinal cells were exposed to the amount of titanium dioxide particles contained in three meals of food for 5 days to simulate chronic exposure.

The results showed that acute contact would not cause any changes, but chronic long-term contact would cause a reduction in the protrusions on the microvilli on the surface of small intestinal cells, thereby damaging the digestive system's antibacterial barrier, reducing digestion speed, and affecting the absorption of nutrients such as iron, zinc, and fatty acids. In addition, inflammatory indicators also increased.

Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium dioxide or titanium sugar, is a common food additive that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers safe. It is often added to toothpaste and chocolate to increase texture, or used in foods such as donuts and skim milk to make them look brighter and more attractive. In addition, it is widely used as a white pigment in paints, paper and plastics, and is also added to sunscreen to protect against ultraviolet rays.

In 2012, researchers at Arizona State University tested 89 common foods, including chewing gum, layer cakes and mayonnaise, and found that all of them contained titanium dioxide.

"To prevent excessive intake of titanium dioxide particles, it is best to avoid highly processed foods, especially sweets," said Gretchen Mahler, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University and one of the authors of the study.