Polysorbate 80 and 20 damage gut cells in lab tests
What it found
In lab tests on human gut cells, polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 killed cells at concentrations from 0.1% and above, and triggered inflammation at 0.05%.
The study used cells grown in the lab, not people.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Cell death
Cells broke open when exposed to polysorbate 20 or polysorbate 80, starting at 0.1% concentration in all the lab models.
Barrier disruption
The gut barrier broke down, shown by lower electrical resistance, more leakage between cells, and irregular tight junction staining.
Inflammation at lower dose
At 0.05%, a concentration below what directly killed cells, genes and proteins for cell development, signaling, proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and stress response went up.
Inflammatory signals
The cells released several cytokines and chemokines, which interacted with their receptors and involved PI3K-Akt and MAPK pathways. CXCL5, CXCL10, and VEGFA rose with polysorbate 20, while CXCL1, CXCL8 (IL-8), CXCL10, and LIF rose with polysorbate 80.
What the authors conclude
“The present study provides direct evidence on the detrimental effects of food emulsifiers P20 and P80 on intestinal epithelial integrity.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the study provides direct evidence that polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 harm intestinal epithelial integrity.
- They state that the mechanism of barrier disruption was cell death at concentrations between 1% and 0.1%.
- They note that even below 0.1%, these polysorbates caused a proinflammatory response, suggesting a detrimental effect on gastrointestinal health.
How it was done
The authors note that more chronic diseases linked to gut barrier problems have appeared alongside rising use of dietary emulsifiers worldwide in recent decades. They wanted to see what these emulsifiers do to gut cells.
They grew human intestinal organoids from stem cells, colon organoid on a chip, and liquid-liquid interface cells, then exposed them to polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80. They measured cell death, barrier resistance, paracellular flux, tight junctions, RNA changes, and protein levels.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on cells, not studies in people, so they cannot show what happens in a living human gut.
- The concentrations tested may not match the amounts that reach the gut after eating foods that contain these emulsifiers.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Zurich, Switzerland; Marmara University, Turkey; Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
The paper
- Title
- Mechanisms of gut epithelial barrier impairment caused by food emulsifiers polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Ogulur I, Yazici D, Pat Y, et al (2023). Mechanisms of gut epithelial barrier impairment caused by food emulsifiers polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80. Allergy. doi:10.1111/all.15825PubMed 37530764DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error