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Microbes & Immunity Dietary emulsifiers affect the presence of AIEC

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B

Figure 1. The association between AIEC presence, CD risk, and food additives exposure in the rural cohort. (A) Logistic regression analysis showing
factors associated with CD risk. Predictors are grouped into three categories: AIEC presence (pink), demographic variables (yellow), and food additives
(blue). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals are shown. Triangles indicate statistically significant associations (p<0.05), and squares indicate non-
significant results. (B) Factors associated with AIEC presence in CD patients from the same rural cohort. Food additives and demographic variables are
assessed for their contribution to AIEC presence.
Abbreviations: AIEC: Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli; AlSiO: Aluminum silicate; ASP: Aspartame; CD: Crohn’s disease; CMC: Carboxymethylcellulose;
CRN: Carrageenan; P80: Polysorbate-80; SAC: Saccharine; (SO ) : Sulfite; SUC: Sucralose; TiO : Titanium dioxide.
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4. Discussion between AIEC and CD reported in a meta-analysis.
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We found that nearly half of AIEC-positive CD patients
Our study provides the first human population-based had lower education levels compared to AIEC-negative
evidence linking dietary factors to AIEC prevalence in
CD patients. We demonstrate that AIEC is present in patients. AIEC-positive CD patients with low education
CD patients residing in a rural area, with the prevalence levels consumed higher amounts of food additives,
lower than that in urban areas. We found that urbanization specifically carrageenan, than AIEC-negative CD patients.
was associated with increased AIEC prevalence, and that It is highly possible that subjects with low education levels
AIEC presence was significantly associated with CD risk tend to choose foods containing additives than those with
and carrageenan intake. These results suggest that dietary high education levels. 27
emulsifiers may promote AIEC colonization and contribute Our findings indicate a positive association between
to CD pathogenesis. urbanization and AIEC prevalence, which may be
Our study revealed a significant association between influenced by accompanying changes in diet and lifestyle.
AIEC and CD risk after adjusting for education level and Prior studies from our team reported that the dietary habits
food additives. This is consistent with a positive correlation differed significantly between people living in Yunnan and

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2025) 71 doi: 10.36922/MI025230051