Sunset Yellow and gut health in rats
What it found
In male rats, 12 weeks of oral Sunset Yellow changed the mix of gut bacteria and weakened the gut lining, setting off inflammatory signals.
The authors say it should be checked whether people see similar effects.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Gut bacteria changed
Sunset Yellow caused an imbalance in the gut bacteria of the rats. Levels of helpful groups such as Treponema 2, Anaerobiospirillum, Helicobacter, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Prevotellaceae UCG-003 fell.
Harmful bacteria rose
The possibly harmful bacteria Prevotella 2 and Oribacterium became more abundant after the dye was given.
Gut lining weakened
The bacterial imbalance disrupted the gut lining. It changed the E-cadherin/β-catenin junction complex in the jejunum and lowered Trefoil Factor 3.
Inflammation switched on
Blood levels of LPS rose. This activated an inflammatory cascade involving TLR4, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18, along with caspase-11 and gasdermin-N, pointing to pyroptosis and greater gut permeability.
What the authors conclude
“The possibility that consumption of SY by humans could have effects similar to those that we have observed in rats should be examined.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the possibility that people who eat Sunset Yellow could have effects like those seen in rats should be examined.
How it was done
Concern persists about possible harmful effects of synthetic azo food dyes, but how they might act is unclear. The authors tested whether long-term Sunset Yellow consumption disturbs gut bacteria and gut integrity.
Male Wistar rats were given Sunset Yellow by mouth for 12 weeks. Fecal samples were analysed before and after the dye was given.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a study in rats, so it cannot show whether people would have the same changes.
- It cannot show whether these effects would happen at the amounts people typically eat.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
- Authors work at
- Future University, Egypt; Cairo University, Egypt; Karolinska Institute, Sweden
The paper
- Title
- Sunset Yellow dye effects on gut microbiota, intestinal integrity, and the induction of inflammasomopathy with pyroptotic signaling in male Wistar rats
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Zahran SA, Mansour SM, Ali AE, et al (2024). Sunset Yellow dye effects on gut microbiota, intestinal integrity, and the induction of inflammasomopathy with pyroptotic signaling in male Wistar rats. Food and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2024.114585PubMed 38490351DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error