Sodium bisulphite, gut cells and intestinal inflammation
What it found
In lab-grown colon cells, sodium bisulphite raised homocysteine and lowered cysteine, and in mice it triggered intestinal inflammation.
Vitamin B6 supplements reduced the damage in both.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Biothiol changes in cells
In NCM460 colon cells, sodium bisulphite markedly raised homocysteine and lowered cysteine. It did this by increasing homocysteine synthase expression and reducing the activity of cystathionine beta-synthase and cystathionine gamma-lyase.
Methionine unchanged
Methionine levels in the colon cells did not change significantly after sodium bisulphite treatment.
Inflammatory signalling
Sodium bisulphite promoted an ROS-mediated NF-kB signalling pathway in the colon cells and increased proinflammatory cytokines, acting through the changed homocysteine and cysteine levels.
Vitamin B6 in cells
Adding vitamin B6 reduced the damage caused by sodium bisulphite in the NCM460 colon cells.
Vitamin B6 in mice
Vitamin B6 supplementation also reduced sodium bisulphite-induced damage in the colon of Balb/c mice.
What the authors conclude
“Besides, VB 6 could be used as a promising candidate in novel therapies for sodium bisulfite-induced intestinal inflammation.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say their study provides valuable insights into the safety evaluation of food preservatives.
- They suggest that "VB 6 could be used as a promising candidate in novel therapies for sodium bisulfite-induced intestinal inflammation."
How it was done
Sulfites and other preservatives are added to food to stop harmful microbes growing, and have been widely used since the late 1950s. The authors say possible effects on intestinal tissue have been largely unexplored.
They treated NCM460 human colon cells with sodium bisulphite and measured biothiol levels and inflammatory signals. They also gave sodium bisulphite to Balb/c mice and tested whether vitamin B6 supplementation changed the effects.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The cell and mouse work cannot show what sodium bisulphite does in people eating it in food.
- The study did not measure whether vitamin B6 would protect people from any intestinal effects of sodium bisulphite.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ningbo University, China; the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Ningbo University, China
The paper
- Title
- Food additive sodium bisulfite induces intracellular imbalance of biothiols levels in NCM460 colonic cells to trigger intestinal inflammation in mice
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Wu W, Fu G, Xuan R, et al (2022). Food additive sodium bisulfite induces intracellular imbalance of biothiols levels in NCM460 colonic cells to trigger intestinal inflammation in mice. Toxicology letters. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.019PubMed 35114314DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error