Carrageenan is a general name for polysaccharides extracted from certain kinds of algae. I thank the author and Epoch Times.
Authored by George Citroner via The Epoch Times
A new study suggests potential health risks associated with carrageenan (derived from red seaweed), a common food additive used as a thickener found in everything from ice cream to plant-based milk.
Researchers found that overweight people who ate foods with the additive became more insulin resistant and had more inflammation.
“In overweight participants, carrageenan exposure resulted in lower whole body and hepatic insulin sensitivity,” the study authors wrote, highlighting the need for further investigation into food additives that consumers might consider harmless.
Carrageenan Linked to Reduced Insulin Sensitivity, Inflammation
The research, published in BMC Medicine on Tuesday, was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 20 young, healthy male participants who received either 250 milligrams of carrageenan or a placebo twice daily over two weeks.
Key outcomes of the study included measuring insulin sensitivity through various tests, including the oral glucose tolerance test. Although no significant differences in overall insulin sensitivity were observed among all participants, interactions between participants’ body mass index (BMI) and their exposure to carrageenan or the placebo were notable.
In overweight people, carrageenan led to lower insulin sensitivity, increased brain inflammation, and higher levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6).
Additionally, carrageenan was linked to increased intestinal permeability, suggesting the participants’ digestive systems might allow substances to enter the bloodstream more easily. The study also showed immune cell activation and increased pro-inflammatory proteins released from white blood cells after carrageenan exposure. This supports the theory that the additive may influence insulin sensitivity by fostering inflammation.
While existing research demonstrates carrageenan’s correlation with heightened metabolic risks, inflammation, and gut disruption, the precise molecular mechanisms driving these adverse effects remain unclear.
While previous animal studies had suggested that carrageenan could induce glucose intolerance and worsen the adverse effects of high-fat diets, the new study represents one of the first clinical investigations into the additive’s effects on human glycemic response.
The researchers called for further research into the long-term health impacts of carrageenan and similar food additives, particularly in populations at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Cutting Out Carrageenan
Stephanie Schiff, a registered dietician and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Huntingdon Hospital, a part of Northwell Health in New York, told The Epoch Times that carrageenan is fairly common in highly processed foods, dairy products such as chocolate milk and ice cream, and plant milks.
The additive can be easily avoided if you’re eating a diet based on whole foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, she noted.
“If a food is made in a factory and has ingredients that are not familiar or are difficult to pronounce, it is likely highly processed and may contain carrageenan,” Schiff said. “If you’re eating a packaged good that is creamy or thick, check the label; it may contain carrageenan.” Although carrageenan is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Schiff noted that it has no nutritional value.
Schiff also recommended a whole-food, plant-focused diet to circumvent carrageenan and other unhealthy additives. Alternatives such as gellan, locust bean, guar, and xanthan gums can replace carrageenan without the associated health risks. However, she cautioned that buying organic does not guarantee a product is free from carrageenan.
The amount of carrageenan in a typical Western diet can range from 250 milligrams to 2 to 4 grams per person per day. According to research, carrageenan is the fourth-most commonly consumed food additive in pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently allows carrageenan in organic food, despite opposition from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a federal advisory board that makes recommendations on organic food and products.
Carrageenan Isn’t the Only Additive of Concern
According to Schiff, people should be aware of other additives commonly found in processed foods, including:
- Sodium Nitrite: Found in processed meats, nitrites have been linked to a higher risk of several types of cancer when heated.
- High-Fructose Corn Syrup: This sweetener is associated with weight gain, diabetes, and inflammation.
- Trans Fats: Present in hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, these fats can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): MSG can cause sweating, flushing, numbness, palpitations, and tingling in sensitive individuals.
NOTE: Is carrageenan safe?
You may see references in magazines and on the Internet that caution consumers against carrageenan consumption due to concerns about the potential for gastrointestinal effects (including malignancies). These cautions were based on the conclusions of a literature review by Dr. Joanne Tobacman and published in Environmental Health Perspectives in October 2001. Recent information has been published by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) that should ease your concerns about carrageenan consumption.
Overall, the JECFA concluded that there was no concern to the continued consumption of carrageenan and assigned it to the group “Acceptable Daily Intake – not specified”. This classification is used when the JECFA has determined that a food additive does not represent a hazard to health. It also allows for the use of the additive at the level necessary to achieve the technical or functional effect in food, also referred to as the level of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The complete report of this review was made publicly available in 2003 and, therefore, post-dates the review by Dr. Tobacman.
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