Posted on 01/11/2022 10:23:31 AM PST by Red Badger
Research by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an international team traces the toxic impact of a common consumer product on the gut microbiome and induces colitis.
A new study conducted in mice demonstrates precisely how triclosan, an antimicrobial found in toothpaste, toys, and thousands of other products, can trigger gut inflammation.
An international team of researchers led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Hong Kong Baptist University identified the bacteria, and even specific enzymes, that trigger triclosan’s harmful effects. Moreover, studies in mice suggest these bacterial enzymes can be blocked from driving intestinal damage.
The findings were published in Nature Communications.
“By identifying the culprit bacteria, new approaches could be developed for the diagnoses, prevention, and treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases,” said study author Matthew Redinbo, a chemistry and microbiology professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill College of Arts & Sciences and UNC School of Medicine.
Previous research has shown triclosan’s toxicity, but the new study provides a closer look at the changes caused in the gut’s microscopic population.
Researchers connected specific gut microbial enzymes, notably gut microbial beta-glucuronidase (GUS) proteins, with triclosan and showed these enzymes drive triclosan to wreak havoc in the gut.
Knowing which bacterial proteins were the culprits, the team used a microbiome-targeted inhibitor to block triclosan processing in the gut. Blocking this process in mice prevented damage to the colon and symptoms of colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease.
The study provides new clues about management of IBD among the growing number of people diagnosed with the disease. IBD can be managed for long periods of time only to flare up out of seemingly nowhere.
Study authors suggest the need for better understanding of the impact of environmental chemicals on gut health.
Triclosan used to be widely available in antibacterial soaps marketed to consumers. But in 2016, the Food and Drug Administration ordered it removed from handwashing products used in homes and hospital settings because of concerns it contributed to more resistant bacteria.
But triclosan remains ubiquitous as an ingredient added to cosmetics, yoga mats and other athletic clothes and gear to reduce bacterial contamination. It’s also routinely used in many toothpastes – with FDA approval – since it has been found to prevent gingivitis.
Triclosan appears to be readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, leading study authors to write, “the safety of triclosan and related compounds should be reconsidered given their potential for intestinal damage.”
Reference: “Microbial enzymes induce colitis by reactivating triclosan in the mouse gastrointestinal tract” by Jianan Zhang, Morgan E. Walker, Katherine Z. Sanidad, Hongna Zhang, Yanshan Liang, Ermin Zhao, Katherine Chacon-Vargas, Vladimir Yeliseyev, Julie Parsonnet, Thomas D. Haggerty, Guangqiang Wang, Joshua B. Simpson, Parth B. Jariwala, Violet V. Beaty, Jun Yang, Haixia Yang, Anand Panigrahy, Lisa M. Minter, Daeyoung Kim, John G. Gibbons, LinShu Liu, Zhengze Li, Hang Xiao, Valentina Borlandelli, Hermen S. Overkleeft, Erica W. Cloer, Michael B. Major, Dennis Goldfarb, Zongwei Cai, Matthew R. Redinbo and Guodong Zhang, 10 January 2022, Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27762-y
The National Institutes of Health, through grants to several authors, the Hong Kong Research Grants Council and the National Science Foundation funded the study, “Microbial enzymes induce colitis by reactivating triclosan in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.”
Here’s a good plan. Don’t eat toothpaste.
So don’t swallow the toothpaste. Also, don’t drink listerine.
Triclosan is banned from many products:
https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Triclosan-and-Why-is-it-Banned.aspx
Research paid for by a class action law firm?
“Here’s a good plan. Don’t eat toothpaste.”
Freedom!!!!
trace amounts of this stuff can have an effect. You don’t have to swallow the toothpaste, for the same reason that you can have problems even if you don’t ‘eat the toys’.
I know a lot of folk with gut problems, mostly women. I wonder if something like this could be the cause.
For those who fear Triclosan, just brush your teeth once a month, and you’ll be fine. Your teeth, not so much.
The Brits have nothing to fear.........................
Dial soap had triclosan. Don’t know if it still does.
Colgate removed Triclosan from their Total toothpaste a few years back, is there still any toothpaste in the U.S. that has it?
The FDA allowed Triclosan in toothpaste because the connection between gum inflamation and heart inflamation is well established (bacteria spread through the bloodstream) and it was judged that the benefits outweighed the risk. But that decision came many years ago.
Triclosan isn’t in toothpaste anymore, but there are other ingredients you need to be aware of.
If you’ve been concerned about your toothpaste having triclosan—an antibacterial that helps prevent gingivitis—the good news is that it’s essentially gone from the market, though it’s still technically permitted.May 2, 2019
Most artificial sweeteners have a similar harmful effect on gut bacteria.
Stevia (used in Truvia, among others) is apparently OK, as is monk fruit sweetener.
Maybe it’s in cat toys. No wonder Daisy hates her toys.
It’s only the Environmental Hazards they’re worrying about ,LOL
According to wikipedia this chemical is required to be on the ingredient list. I checked my toothpaste and it wasn’t there. But I found out it has saccharin, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and cocamidopropyl betaine.
I need to look up those last two.
tetrasodium pyrophosphate: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0606.html
From the CDC:
Skin:Prevent skin contact
Eyes:Prevent eye contact
cocamidopropyl betaine:
cocamidopropyl betaine shampoo was developed using coconut oil as a base. The mild formula lathered well but wasn’t as astringent as typical detergents. It became the famous “no more tears” baby shampoo. Seems OK.
I thought they took triclosan outta toothpaste, and pit stick, a while ago...
Its not in any of the products I use = I checked.
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