Back to Study: Effect of dietary additives on intestinal permeabi...
correlational
negative effect

Eating a lot of salt makes the gut more leaky in fruit flies and also makes them die sooner.

Scientific Claim

Sodium chloride (table salt) is associated with increased intestinal permeability in Drosophila melanogaster and reduced lifespan in this model.

Source Excerpt

TWEEN 20 and salt diets both led to significantly reduced longevity compared with control-fed flies (Fig. 3E,F), with survival curves showing earlier death in TWEEN-20-fed than salt-fed flies, which correlated with predominantly early (TWEEN 20)- versus late (salt)-age gut barrier dysfunction.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting Studies

Effect of dietary additives on intestinal permeability in both Drosophila and a human cell co-culture

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3%
Evidence Assessment
Supported

The study measured Smurfing (gut permeability) and survival in flies fed salt, finding increased permeability and reduced lifespan compared to controls.