Reply to critique of “A randomized trial of the effects of the no-carrageenan diet on ulcerative colitis disease activity”

Abstract

This article is an invited response to a critique by industry of our published study about the impact of carrageenan supplement on the interval to relapse in ulcerative colitis patients on a no-carrageenan diet.

Roadmap for the integration of gastro‐intestinal (GI) tract microbiomes (human and domestic animal) in risk assessments under EFSA's remit

“…galactosidic bonds have been associated with human rejection of organ transplants from mammals due to innate immune responses, since humans do not harbour these bonds (Tobacman, 2015). In vitro (HepG2 cells) and in vivo (mice) experiments have shown extraintestinal inflammation following oral ingestion of carrageenan (Bhattacharyya et al, 2012), indicating systemic effects which may be influenced by circulating immune cells and responses of the intestinal microbiome (Bhattacharyya et al, 2019). Hundreds of genes were significantly modified by the exposure to a low concentration of carrageenan on human colonic epithelial cells following cDNA microarray analysis (Borthakur et al, 2007).…”

“…Hundreds of genes were significantly modified by the exposure to a low concentration of carrageenan on human colonic epithelial cells following cDNA microarray analysis (Borthakur et al, 2007). These transcriptional effects of carrageenan may arise due to inflammation, activation of immune responses, or interference with normal cellular metabolism related to effects on proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and signaling pathways (Bhattacharyya et al, 2019). On top of that, a small RCT (12 patients with ulcerative colitis) evaluated carrageenan consumption and the risk of relapse of this disease.…”