The 8 Most Dangerous But Permitted Dietary Supplements

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Nutritional supplements are found in food after repeated research and are considered safe. However, in some cases, and permitted substances can be harmful to health.

1. Sodium nitrite

Food supplement E250 is a nitrous acid salt, which is used as an antioxidant. It allows meat products to retain their appetizing pink color. The antibacterial effect of sodium nitrite is also useful: it destroys the causative agent of botulism.

Sodium nitrite is toxic in large quantities. For a person weighing 65 kg, a lethal dose will be about 4.6 g. However, its content in products is maintained at less than 50 mg per 1 kg of products, which makes the use of this food additive practically safe.

Another negative effect of sodium nitrite is its carcinogenicity. More precisely, the nitrous acid salt interacts with the amines contained in meat, resulting in the formation of nitrosamines, which can provoke cancer. However, the addition of ascorbic or isoascorbic acid almost completely blocks the formation of nitrosamines, which is what manufacturers use to make their products less harmful. In addition, there has been a link between sodium nitrite intake and the occurrence of migraines.

Therefore, products with food additive E250 can be consumed in general, but you should not be especially zealous.

2. Sodium nitrate

Sodium salt of nitric acid with the formula NaNO₃ in the list of food additives it appears under the code E251. Sodium nitrate is used in the manufacture of sausages, canned food, and cheeses. This food additive increases the shelf life of products and is also responsible for the pleasant color of meat products.

The problem of sodium nitrate is in the same nitrosamines that are formed when products containing E251 are heated. But even in this case, carcinogenicity is eliminated by ascorbic or isoascorbic acid.

3. Tartrazine

Dye E102, which gives products a yellow color, is used in carbonated drinks, confectionery, canned fruits. Tartrazine can cause allergic reactions. However, studies show that negative consequences of consumption are detected only in 0.01% of people.

4. Sulfur dioxide

Food additive E220 is used in the manufacture of certain types of wines and dried fruits. It is an antioxidant that prevents the oxidation of products, maintains its presentation, fights bacteria and fungi.

Sulfur dioxide can be dangerous for asthmatics, causing an exacerbation of the disease.

5. Butylhydroxyanisole

E320 additive is used as an antioxidant and preservative. Research shows that the substance may be carcinogenic. Such conclusions were made as a result of experiments on rats and Syrian golden hamsters. However, at a low level of consumption of butylhydroxyanisole, an oncogenic effect was not revealed.

6. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate

Benzoic acid E210 and sodium benzoate E211 are preservatives. Scientists are concerned about the possibility of benzene formation. when these additives come into contact with ascorbic acid. Benzene is considered toxic and carcinogenic.

The safe daily dose of benzoic acid and its derivatives is 5 mg per kg of body weight.

7. Sodium hydrogen sulfite

E222 is used in winemaking to prevent oxidation of the drink and preserve its taste, as well as in fruit preservation. In high concentrations, sodium hydrogen sulfite can provoke allergic reactions and an asthma attack.

8. Brilliant black BN

E151 black dye is banned in the USA, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Finland, but allowed in Russia. The supplement can cause food allergies and asthma attacks.