BHT (E321): the food preservative that promotes obesity

    An additive found in American breakfast cereals and other everyday products interferes with the hormonal system and is blamed for causing obesity. According to a new study conducted in the United States.

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    Un additive found in American breakfast cereals and other everyday products, it interferes with the hormonal system and is accused of causing obesity. According to a new study conducted in the United States.





    It is not the first time that the Butylhydroxytoluene, a chemical antioxidant that is added to products with the function of protecting nutrients and preventing fats from going rancid, is accused of not being exactly harmless to our health. This substance, which is on the label with the acronym E321, is widely used in the US in breakfast cereals which are therefore not only full of sugar but also rich in additives that can further increase the problem of obesity.

    Until now, the negative influences of this additive on weight gain had been demonstrated only on animal samples but now they have been effects on humans are also confirmed. A research team led by Dhruv Sareen of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center examined 3 endocrine disruptors, including Butylhydroxytoluene (BHT).

    In the first-of-its-kind Nature Communications study published, researchers developed a new method to test the effects of endocrine disruptors on humans. They looked at the exposure of the three chemicals on hormone-producing tissues starting from human stem cells. The goal was to investigate how chronic exposure to these chemicals can interfere with the signals sent from the digestive system to the brain that are crucial as they allow people to experience the sensation of fullness during meals.

    When this message system breaks down, people continue to eat and inevitably experience weight gain. So what did the researchers discover? BHT, but also the other two compounds analyzed (perfluorooctanoic acid - PFOA and tributylthin - TBT) produce particularly damaging effects. These substances damage in fact hormones which deal with the communication between the gut and the brain and it seems that the Butylhydroxytoluene has proved the worst in this regard.


    BHT (E321): the food preservative that promotes obesity

    Precisely because of the dubious health effects of this additive, even before the latest research on it, several brands of cereals, even in America, have limited its use, perhaps replacing it with E320 (will it hurt less?). However, there is the problem that cereal labels in the States are not always clear about the substances actually added.


    You might be interested in it learn more about other food additives:


    • DYE E150 CARAMEL: IS IT REALLY BAD? THE EXPERT'S OPINION
    • MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE: IS IT REALLY HARM? THE EXPERT'S OPINION

    In Europe this additive is generally not found in breakfast cereals and its use in baby products is prohibited. We, however, as always we advise you to read the labels carefully of what you buy.


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