Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans

Introduction Propionic acid (PA) is a common food preservative generally recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration; however, exogenous PA has effects on glucose metabolism that are not fully understood. Our preclinical studies demonstrated exogenous PA increases glucagon, norepinephr...

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Main Authors: Amir Tirosh, Rajesh Garg, Shreya Bhandari, Gail K Adler, Ezra S Hornik, Gillian Murray, Yogesh Yadav, Mahyar Heydarpour, Rita Basu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-03-01
Series:BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
Online Access:https://drc.bmj.com/content/9/1/e002336.full
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author Amir Tirosh
Rajesh Garg
Shreya Bhandari
Gail K Adler
Ezra S Hornik
Gillian Murray
Yogesh Yadav
Mahyar Heydarpour
Rita Basu
author_facet Amir Tirosh
Rajesh Garg
Shreya Bhandari
Gail K Adler
Ezra S Hornik
Gillian Murray
Yogesh Yadav
Mahyar Heydarpour
Rita Basu
author_sort Amir Tirosh
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Propionic acid (PA) is a common food preservative generally recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration; however, exogenous PA has effects on glucose metabolism that are not fully understood. Our preclinical studies demonstrated exogenous PA increases glucagon, norepinephrine, and endogenous glucose production (EGP).Research design and methods We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 28 healthy men and women to determine the effect of PA (1500 mg calcium propionate) on these factors. Subjects had two study visits, each preceded by a 1 week, PA-free diet. During each visit, glucose, insulin, glucagon, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and EGP were assessed for 2 hours after oral administration of PA/placebo under resting conditions (protocol 1) and during either a euglycemic (~85–90 mg/dL) or hypoglycemic (~65–70 mg/dL) hyperinsulinemic clamp (protocol 2).Results PA, as compared with placebo, significantly increased: (1) glucagon and norepinephrine during protocol 1; (2) glucagon, norepinephrine, and epinephrine under euglycemic conditions in protocol 2; and (3) norepinephrine, epinephrine, and EGP under hypoglycemic conditions in protocol 2.Conclusion Oral consumption of PA leads to inappropriate activation of the insulin counterregulatory hormonal network. This inappropriate stimulation highlights PA as a potential metabolic disruptor.
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spelling doaj-art-b3317a2e426c4b3fbed2461fad4e58f42025-08-20T02:50:26ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care2052-48972021-03-019110.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002336Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humansAmir Tirosh0Rajesh Garg1Shreya Bhandari2Gail K Adler3Ezra S Hornik4Gillian Murray5Yogesh Yadav6Mahyar Heydarpour7Rita Basu84 Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, IsraelDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USADepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USADepartment of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USAIntroduction Propionic acid (PA) is a common food preservative generally recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration; however, exogenous PA has effects on glucose metabolism that are not fully understood. Our preclinical studies demonstrated exogenous PA increases glucagon, norepinephrine, and endogenous glucose production (EGP).Research design and methods We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 28 healthy men and women to determine the effect of PA (1500 mg calcium propionate) on these factors. Subjects had two study visits, each preceded by a 1 week, PA-free diet. During each visit, glucose, insulin, glucagon, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and EGP were assessed for 2 hours after oral administration of PA/placebo under resting conditions (protocol 1) and during either a euglycemic (~85–90 mg/dL) or hypoglycemic (~65–70 mg/dL) hyperinsulinemic clamp (protocol 2).Results PA, as compared with placebo, significantly increased: (1) glucagon and norepinephrine during protocol 1; (2) glucagon, norepinephrine, and epinephrine under euglycemic conditions in protocol 2; and (3) norepinephrine, epinephrine, and EGP under hypoglycemic conditions in protocol 2.Conclusion Oral consumption of PA leads to inappropriate activation of the insulin counterregulatory hormonal network. This inappropriate stimulation highlights PA as a potential metabolic disruptor.https://drc.bmj.com/content/9/1/e002336.full
spellingShingle Amir Tirosh
Rajesh Garg
Shreya Bhandari
Gail K Adler
Ezra S Hornik
Gillian Murray
Yogesh Yadav
Mahyar Heydarpour
Rita Basu
Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care
title Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
title_full Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
title_fullStr Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
title_full_unstemmed Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
title_short Acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
title_sort acute effects of the food preservative propionic acid on glucose metabolism in humans
url https://drc.bmj.com/content/9/1/e002336.full
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