Sodium sulfite and sorbic acid effects on immune cells in lab tests
What it found
In lab tests on human blood cells, sodium sulfite and sorbic acid dampened parts of the immune response.
The effect grew stronger at higher doses.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Immune response slowed down
Both preservatives reduced the activity of a specific immune pathway in human blood cells tested in lab dishes. This pathway normally helps fight infections by releasing signalling chemicals.
Effect grew with dose
The slowdown was stronger when more preservative was added. Sodium sulfite had this effect at 1 mM and sorbic acid at 50 mM.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that both sodium sulfite and sorbic acid can dampen an activated immune response in human blood cells tested in the lab.
How it was done
Antioxidant preservatives help keep processed foods and drinks fresh, nutritious and tasty. The authors wanted to see how two common ones affect human immune cells.
They took white blood cells from healthy donors and activated them in lab dishes. They then added sodium sulfite or sorbic acid at different doses. They measured changes linked to a specific type of immune response.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on isolated cells, so they cannot show what happens when people eat foods containing these preservatives. Scientists do not yet know if eating normal amounts affects the immune system in a living person.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Innsbruck Medical University, Austria
The paper
- Title
- Food preservatives sodium sulfite and sorbic acid suppress mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Winkler C, Frick B, Schroecksnadel K, Schennach H, Fuchs D (2006). Food preservatives sodium sulfite and sorbic acid suppress mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Food and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2006.06.019PubMed 16904801DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error