In a small study published in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2020, researchers examined the effects of several food additives, including titanium dioxide, along with artificial sweeteners and cleaning products by testing the fecal samples of 13 people. Titanium dioxide was among the samples that “induced significant shifts in microbiome community structure.”  The growth of the bacterium species belonging to C. leptum, which has been shown to decrease in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, “significantly decreased in the presence of … titanium dioxide” among other additives and sweeteners tested.

Overall, Chinese anatase titanium dioxide stands out as a versatile and valuable material with a wide range of applications in various industries. Its unique properties make it a popular choice for use in pigments, sunscreen, environmental remediation, and energy conversion technologies. As research into this material continues to expand, we can expect to see even more innovative uses and advancements in the field of materials science.