BHT and uterine fibroid cell growth in lab tests
What it found
In rat uterine fibroid cells grown in the lab, BHT increased cell growth and the build-up of material that makes fibroids firm.
The authors say animal studies are still needed to confirm this.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Cell growth
In lab tests, BHT at all concentrations tested for 48 hours increased the growth of rat leiomyoma cells. It also raised levels of a protein called PCNA, which is a marker of cell division.
Colony formation
After 48 hours of BHT exposure, the cells formed more colonies, suggesting BHT boosted their long-term growth potential.
Tissue breakdown enzymes
BHT increased the levels of two enzymes, MMP-2 and MMP-9, which break down the material that holds cells together. This was seen in both live-cell imaging and protein analysis.
Fibroid firmness proteins
BHT raised the levels of proteins called COL1A1 and alpha-SMA, which are part of the extracellular matrix that makes fibroids firm. This suggests BHT increased matrix build-up.
Cell signalling
BHT activated the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signalling pathways in the cells. When the researchers blocked PI3K with a chemical, BHT's effect on matrix build-up was reversed.
What the authors conclude
“These results suggest the harmful effect of BHT exposure on leiomyoma progression may relate to PI3K modulation.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say this is the first study to explore the effect of food additives on leiomyoma progression.
- They conclude that BHT exposure could increase leiomyoma progression by modulating PI3K and MAPK signalling pathways.
- They advise that further animal studies are needed to investigate the effects of BHT metabolites.
How it was done
The authors wanted to find out whether the common food preservative BHT plays a role in the progression of uterine fibroids, since more studies are looking at how environmental exposures affect tumour growth.
They grew ELT-3 rat uterine leiomyoma cells in the lab and exposed them to BHT for 24, 48 or 72 hours. They then measured cell growth, colony formation, and proteins linked to tissue build-up and cell signalling.
What it can’t tell you
- These are lab tests on rat cells, so they cannot show what happens in women.
- The study did not test BHT in whole animals or in people, so it cannot show whether BHT causes fibroids to grow in the body.
- The authors note that the role of BHT metabolites in leiomyoma progression remains unknown.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; I-Shou University, Taiwan; Ain Shams University, Egypt
The paper
- Title
- The Role of Cell Proliferation and Extracellular Matrix Accumulation Induced by Food Additive Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Uterine Leiomyoma
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Chiang YF, Chen HY, Ali M, et al (2021). The Role of Cell Proliferation and Extracellular Matrix Accumulation Induced by Food Additive Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Uterine Leiomyoma. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu13093074Free full textPubMed 34578952DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error