An international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of North Carolina has concluded that toothpaste can be dangerous to the body.
The substance triclosan, which is found in toothpaste and other products, can cause intestinal inflammation.
The above conclusion was reached by an international team of researchers led by researchers from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). Triclosan, when it enters the gastrointestinal tract, affects the intestinal microflora in such a way that some microbes begin to have a harmful effect, contributing greatly to inflammatory processes. This is due to the fact that bacteria secrete enzymes, such as beta-glucuronidases, which, when interacting with triclosan, become pathogenic to the intestine.
The researchers developed a compound that blocks the metabolic cycle involving triclosan. Experiments on mice have shown that the inhibitor prevents damage to the large intestine and the development of colitis, an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The results will help find new treatments for such disorders, which are becoming increasingly common among the population.