Under suspicion

The white pigment titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used for many purposes. It is a component of varnish and paint, plastics, paper and cosmetics. Under the number E171, titanium dioxide is used as a whitener in all kinds of different foods, such as sweets, chocolate, cheese or white sauces – everywhere where we want white colour or shiny, smooth surfaces.

Titanium dioxide is also used very often for capsule shells and dragées. This is a very interesting point for therapists because many drugs and food supplements also contain this colouring. It is not easy to identify it for the customer: in medication, you can find it under excipients under the number C.I. 77891, and in food supplements under the list of ingredients under the number E171.

Titanium dioxide makes life easy for manufacturers. They get nice, shiny and opaque capsules. Like this, nobody can see what is going on inside the capsule – whether the colour changes, whether the filling reacts in a hygroscopic way or if components start to de-mix. These natural and harmless processes can naturally be irritating for the customer. To avoid this irritation, TiO2 is used a lot as a covering component in the capsule shells.

Nonetheless, we at Biogena consistently avoid additives and manufacture according to the pure substance principle. We use transparent, non-coloured capsule shells without titanium oxide. This conscious avoidance of colouring and additives is a main characteristic of our Biogena products. And we are doing it right because many side-effects of additives only show with the years. On Pub Med, there are more than 60 contributions concerning titanium dioxide nanoparticle toxicity in the period between January and June 2017. This means that in six months, the research results compared with the years 2005-2007. This means that we know much more about the risk than we did ten years before.

Our legal authorities react either slowly or not at all. We can still use E171 in foods without maximum amount limits (quantum satis). It is the same case with drugs. Until a few years ago, it was assumed that titanium dioxide passes our gastrointestinal tract unharmed. But research during the last years shows different results. The titanium dioxide that is used in foods consists of 5 to 10% of particles that are <100 nanometres in size. These nanoparticles are ingested via the intestinal tract and have systemic effects. Toxicological tests with rats showed – already after a 1-week TiO2 intake similar to amounts that are relevant for humans – accumulation of TiO2-nanoparticles in the Peyer’s patch and a significant influence in immunological reactions. After 100 days, micro-inflammations were visible in the colon (Bettini 2016). The nanoparticles pass the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. Via DNA methylation, TiO2 can then contribute to the dysfunctionality of the neural system (Song 2016). Spermatogenesis is also affected by titanium dioxide, as a current study shows (Miura 2017), just to cite a few of the latest findings.

All of this means that it is more than about time for the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and legal authorities to do something about it.

The example of titanium oxide shows why it pays off to avoid substances that might be technically convenient, but that are unnecessary for humans. Yes, also if the compounds are considered harmless – because this can change quite quickly, as we have seen.

We, manufacturing according to the pure substance principle are committed to this avoidance of such substances, even if it is sometimes difficult. Production without technical substances and colouring as well as additives is more complex and more expensive.

But for long-term health, our way is surely the better one. Let us walk it together.