Chemical Research in Toxicology, 2021, 34(11), 2319-2330.
QUOTE: “There is growing evidence from human and animal studies indicating an association between exposure to synthetic food dyes and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children.”
The authors developed a way to evaluate the seven FDA certified food dyes using the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxicity Forecaster. This allowed them to identify molecular mechanisms linked to neurological pathway perturbations.
RESULTS: “The azo dyes had a range of activity in assays mapped to G-protein-coupled receptors and were active in assays targeting dopaminergic, serotonergic, and opioid receptors.”
The authors concluded that their results provide insight into mechanisms of neurobehavioral effects observed in animal and human studies.