Establishment of biological effects and their prevention methods against oxidative stress induced by exposome exposure

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K05426
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Minamiyama Yukiko 京都府立大学, 生命環境科学研究科, 教授 (00362989)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 竹村 茂一 大阪公立大学, 大学院医学研究科, 特任教授 (00322363) ; 市川 寛 同志社大学, 生命医科学部, 教授 (60336732)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 食品添加物 / 酸化ストレス / 不妊 / 認知症 / 加工食品 / エクスポソーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted to determine whether exposure to food additives (exposomes) is associated with infertility and dementia, in particular. We tested the hypothesis that a mixture of several food additives, which have been shown to have effects by themselves, at 1/10,000 of the NOAEL, induces oxidative stress in the testes and brain at 2 and 8 weeks, and that administration of the antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol can prevent these stresses. In spermatozoa, ROS production was increased from 2 weeks, and some motor functions important for fertilization, such as curvilinear motility, were also significantly decreased. Oxidative stress was also induced in testes and hippocampus. Tocopherol also ameliorated these changes. Intestinal flora (number and composition of bacteria) did not significantly change.

Free Research Field

食環境安全性学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食品衛生法で認可されている一日摂取許容量(ADI)の1/100の添加物摂取でも精子や海馬に酸化ストレスを与え、それは単独投与に比べて混合投与で増強することが判明した。現在、不妊や若年性認知症が増加しているが、加工食品摂取などの生活習慣が一因の可能性が示唆された。これらの現象は抗酸化物質の摂取によって予防できることも判明したので、添加物混合加工食品を摂取する際は抗酸化物質も一緒に摂ることが重要かもしれない。また、加工食品に偏らず、地産地消の推進も検討すべきと考える。