A study has revealed that a chemical found in dairy products, ice cream, and meat-based items could potentially cause type 2 diabetes.
In the food industry, carrageenan (also known as E407) is used as an emulsifier due to its gel-like properties. However, researchers have warned that this emulsifier can damage gut health, destabilize blood sugar levels, and even cause colon cancer.
A team of scientists in Germany recently conducted a study to determine whether this common food additive, found in popular sweet treats, could lead to type 2 diabetes.
The study, published in the BMC Medicine journal, involved 20 healthy-weight individuals aged between 27 and 31, who were given 250 mg of carrageenan daily along with their normal diet for two weeks. Another group of 20 individuals was given a placebo.
At the end of the two weeks, researchers conducted MRI scans of the participants’ brains and stomachs to look for signs of inflammation, which is often a precursor to various digestive disorders. They also measured the participants’ insulin sensitivity. Insulin is a hormone that helps absorb energy from food and maintains stable blood sugar levels. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s sensitivity to insulin is lost, causing dangerously high or low blood sugar levels.
The data revealed that, compared to the placebo group, the group consuming carrageenan experienced weight gain and a reduction in insulin sensitivity.
