[TigerC10]

You're close, try this:

PHP Code:

$getpermission=$db->query("SELECT Optionallowed FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX."ELoptions");
$permission=$db->fetch_array($getpermission);
$permissionPOSTER = htmlspecialchars_uni($permission['Optionallowed']);

$permissionGROUPS = preg_split('/[\s,]+/', $permissionPOSTER ); 


Then just use $permissionGROUPS in your is_member_of function call.