Analysis of the changes in the intestinal flora and the effects on the homeostasis caused by food additive nanoparticles

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26560066
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: Osaka Prefecture University
• Principal Investigator: Tokumoto Hayato 大阪府立大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (70405348)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌 / 菌叢解析 / 嫌気発酵

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Development of nanoparticle (NP) production have resulted in the appearance of numerous food additive NPs in the market. However, there are concerns about the risks of consuming these NPs.In this research, to study the effects of these NPs on the intestinal flora, three types of NPs, namely, anatase TiO2 NPs with a nominal particle size of 0.5μm, SiO2 NPs with a nominal particle size of 0.8μm, and Fe2O3 NPs with a nominal particle size of 0.3μm were orally administered to mice, and the feces excreted were analyzed for intestinal flora.From the result indicate that,excessive consumption of soluble food additive NPs with a small particle size cause great changes in the composition of the intestinal flora, and there is a risk that these could lead to digestive tract disorders because of the increasing predominance of Clostridiaceae species.

Free Research Field

生物工学