Systematic assessment of mechanistic data for FDA-certified food colors and neurodevelopmental processes

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 140; p. 111310
• Main Authors: Chappell, G.A., Britt, J.K., Borghoff, S.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2020
• Subjects: ADHD; Color additives; Food Coloring Agents - standards; Food Coloring Agents - toxicity; Food colors; High-throughput screening; In vitro; Neurodevelopment; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration; United States; High-throughput screening; Neurodevelopment; ADHD; Food colors; Color additives; In vitro
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111310

Seven US FDA-batch certified synthetic food colors are approved for use as food additives in the United States. Perceived neurodevelopmental concerns for these colors persist. This study assessed the plausibility of such an association through the evaluation of mechanistic evidence collected from in vitro assays or other alternative models. Mechanisms and molecular targets underlying neurodevelopmental processes associated with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other neurodevelopmental-related symptoms (e.g., cognitive function, learning and memory disorder, etc.) were identified. Publicly available data from the ToxCast/Tox21 high-throughput screening (HTS) program and peer-reviewed literature that measure activity of the colors for such molecular targets were analyzed and reviewed. Erythrosine (Red No. 3) was active in several assays mapped to neurodevelopmental processes — specifically, HTS assays that measure signals in neurotransmitter pathways. The remaining six colors do not appear to alter signaling pathways related to neurodevelopmental processes on the molecular or cellular level. This assessment provides an approach for systematically identifying and mapping mechanistic data to putative neurodevelopmental processes as a means to prioritize substances for possible further investigation. The assessment also provides insights into the lack of activity of synthetic food colors for key events in neurodevelopmental signaling pathways. •Systematic identification of molecular events potentially related to neuro-relevant processes and outcomes.•Mapped high-throughput screening (HTS) assays from the ToxCast/Tox21 database to such molecular events and/or related genes.•Evaluated HTS data for seven FDA-approved synthetic food colors for the mapped neuro-relevant assays.•Evaluated neuro-relevant data for seven FDA-approved synthetic food colors in new approach methods (NAMs) published in the literature.•Findings support an overall lack of neuro-related activity of the seven food colors, with the exception of neurotransmitter signaling by erythrosine.