Abstract:
Instant foods have been a go-to food for people who are pressed for time, however, concerns have arisen due to its various food additives. Disodium 5’-nucleotide (I+G) is among the most common flavor enhancers utilized in instant foods. Although its use is approved by food and drug authorities, various toxicity issues still surround it. Caenorhabditis elegans have become a prominent animal model because of their distinctive traits: easy to maintain, brief life cycle, and known whole cell lineage. In this study, C. elegans was used as an in vivo model to assess the influence of the consumption of I+G on lifespan and cognitive performance. An aqueous solution was prepared using powdered I+G. Lifespan assay and associative memory assays after I+G consumption were conducted to assess the effect of the flavor enhancer. The results showed that higher concentrations of I+G were associated with shorter lifespans, indicating a possible dose-dependent effect. Acute and chronic consumption of I+G also had an impact on the worms' learning abilities, with acute consumption enhancing attraction to specific odors and chronic consumption impairing short-term and long-term memory retention. These findings raise concerns about the potential health effects of I+G consumption and emphasize the need for further research to understand its underlying mechanisms and inform regulatory decisions.
