Carrageenan worsened gut inflammation in mice
What it found
In mice with drug-induced gut inflammation, pretreatment with κ-carrageenan made weight loss worse and increased deaths.
The study was in animals, not people.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Weight loss and deaths
Mice given κ-carrageenan before TNBS lost more body weight and had a higher death rate than mice given TNBS alone.
Colon damage
Tissue and shape studies showed the colon inflammation caused by TNBS was worse in mice that also received κ-carrageenan.
Immune cell ratio
The ratio of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127dim to CD4(+) cells was much lower in the κ-carrageenan plus TNBS groups than in the TNBS group.
Inflammatory signals
Levels of IL-2, TNF-α and IL-6 rose, while IL-10 fell, in the κ-carrageenan plus TNBS groups.
Oxidative stress and pathways
With TNBS, κ-carrageenan lowered SOD and GSH-px enzyme activity and raised TLR4, NF-κB, p-ERK, p-JNK, p-Jun, IL-8 and MDA in the colon lining.
What the authors conclude
“κ-Carrageenan aggravated the TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation, and such an effect could be associated with the oxidative stress and activation of TLR4-NF-κB and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that κ-carrageenan made TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation worse.
- They say this effect could be linked to oxidative stress and activation of the TLR4-NF-κB and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways.
How it was done
Carrageenan is a sulfated polysaccharide widely used as a common food additive.
BALB/c mice were pretreated with κ-carrageenan for 14 days before TNBS was given to cause gut inflammation.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are mouse studies. They can't show what happens in people.
- The mice had drug-induced gut inflammation, so the results may not apply to healthy people or other gut conditions.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ningbo University, PR China; Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo Medical Center, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, PR China
The paper
- Title
- Enhanced effect of κ-carrageenan on TNBS-induced inflammation in mice
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Wei W, Feng W, Xin G, et al (2016). Enhanced effect of κ-carrageenan on TNBS-induced inflammation in mice. International immunopharmacology. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2016.07.031PubMed 27494685DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error