Food‐grade titanium dioxide (E171) by solid or liquid matrix administration induces inflammation, germ cells sloughing in seminiferous tubules and blood‐testis barrier disruption in mice

Abstract

Food‐grade titanium dioxide labeled as E171 has been approved for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (USA) and by the European Union for five decades. However, titanium dioxide has been classified as a possible carcinogen for humans by the International Agency of Research in Cancer raising concerns of its oral intake and the translocation to bloodstream, which could disturb barriers such as the blood‐testis barrier. There is evidence that titanium dioxide by intragastric/intraperitoneal/intravenous administration induced alterations on testosterone levels, testicular function and architecture, but studies of the E171 effects on the testicle structure and blood‐testis barrier are limited. E171 is contained not only in foods in liquid matrix but also in solid ones, which can exert different biological effects. We aimed to compare the effects of E171 consumption in a solid matrix (0.1%, 0.5% and 1% in pellets) and liquid suspension (5 mg/kg body weight) on testis structure, inflammation infiltrate and blood‐testis barrier disruption of male BALB/c mice. Results showed that none of the administration routes had influence on body weight but an increase in germ cell sloughing and the infiltrate of inflammatory cells in seminiferous tubules, together with disruption of the blood‐testis barrier were similar in testis of both groups even if the dose received in mice in liquid matrix was 136 or 260 times lower than the dose reached by oral intake in solid E171 pellets in 0.5% E171 and 1% E171, respectively. This study highlights the attention on matrix food containing E171 and possible adverse effects on testis when E171 is consumed in a liquid matrix.

Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Food Packaging and Their Influence on Human Health

“…This may lead TiO 2 -NPs to be toxicologically potent than previously known. [52,[132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148][149] ZnO-NPs…”

Adverse Outcome Pathways Associated with the Ingestion of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles—A Systematic Review

“…The treatment with morin was determined as presenting a potential beneficial role, probably being mediated by redox regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic mechanisms [114]. A study from 2019 [190], focused on the effects of E171 consumption on mice, showed increased germ cell sloughing and inflammatory cells, together with the disruption of the bloodtestis barrier. Abnormal developmental events in male rat seminal vesicles have also been shown [191], and leading to spermatogenesis disturbances [192].…”

Nanomaterials modify the growth of crops and some characteristics of organisms from agricultural or forest soils: An experimental study at laboratory, greenhouse and land level

“…TiO2-, Fe2O3-, and ZnO-NP have been widely applied in industry in several products, such as paints, colorants, plastic cosmetics, cleaning, and personal care products (Fan et al, 2014;Jacobs et al, 2010). TiO2-NP is an allowed, and registered additive by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America (FDA; E171) classified as save and "biologically inert" (human and animals) (Rodriguez-Escamilla et al, 2019). However, there is no available information regarding the regulatory status of Fe2O3-, and ZnO-NP, though the FDA stated that there remains a need to learn more about the potential role and importance of dimensions in the physical and chemical characteristics and biological effects exhibited by FDA-regulated products that involve the application of nanotechnology (FDA, 2014).…”