Eating a lot of sugar makes the gut more leaky in fruit flies and human gut cells in a lab setting, which can be seen when blue dye leaks out of the gut in flies or when a special dye passes through gut cells more easily.
Scientific Claim
High sugar consumption is associated with increased intestinal permeability in both Drosophila melanogaster and human intestinal cell co-cultures, as measured by blue dye leakage in flies and Lucifer Yellow permeability in cell models.
Original Statement
“Of the additives tested, intestinal permeability was increased most dramatically by high sugar. High sugar also increased feeding but reduced gut and overall animal size.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study used animal and in vitro models without human randomization or control, so it can only show association, not causation. The language 'associated with' appropriately reflects the study design.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effect of dietary additives on intestinal permeability in both Drosophila and a human cell co-culture