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Sodium Propionate
Sodium Propionate
Sodium Propionate
What is it:
Sodium propionate, a commonly used food additive, is synthesized through a process involving propionic acid and sodium hydroxide. Propionic acid, a naturally occurring organic acid, is typically derived from either petrochemical or biological sources such as fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria. In the production of sodium propionate, propionic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide to form the sodium salt of propionic acid, known as sodium propionate. This compound serves as an effective preservative, primarily used to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria in various food products, extending their shelf life. Sodium propionate is widely utilized in bread and other baked goods, dairy products, and animal feed.
Rating:
Propionate is a type of short-chain fatty acid produced in the body through the fermentation of dietary fibers, that plays important roles in health. While commonly used for its anti-fungal properties, sodium propionate supplementation provides an exogenous source of propionate that appears to provide various health benefits in various human and animal studies, including reducing inflammation and oxidation, improving cognition, increasing resting energy expenditure, and regulating immune response. While propionate can be produced naturally through fermentation, it is commonly produced using petrochemicals which are harmful to humans.
Resources:
- Sodium propionate has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect (in vitro animal study)
- Sodium propionate improves cognitive and memory function in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (animal study)
- Sodium propionate supplementation raises resting energy expenditure and lipid oxidation in fasted humans (randomized controlled trial)
- Sodium propionate helps regulate immune response in patients with end stage renal disease (clinical trial)
- ScienceDirect on sodium propionate
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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