Sub-acute toxicity of xylitol in rats; absence of hepatotoxicity.

Some workers have suggested that 6 days xylitol administration to rats results in hepatic dysfunction. In our study xylitol was administered to rats by daily gastric intubation for a period of 14 days. Dose levels were 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg. During treatment (2, 5 and 14 days), animals were submitted to careful clinical examinations and to blood serum analysis related to hepatic functions. They were sacrificed after 2, 5, and 14 days treatment. In the 2 and 5 days treatment groups, main organs were submitted to histological study. This examination was only performed on liver in the 14 days treatment group. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was recorded. Serum levels of all parameters measured were within normal limits (including bilirubin and serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP). No anomalies were shown histologically.

[Toxicologic evaluation of irradiated corn starch by long term experimentation with rats]. / Evaluation toxicologique de l'amidon de maïs irradié par expérimentation à long terme chez le rat

Maize starch pasteurized by irradiation was fed to OFA rats (Sprague Dawley derived) in an uncooked form (irradiated at 300 krad.) and in a cooked form (irradiated at 300 and 600 krad.) at dietary level of 62%. A six month toxicity trial was performed with uncooked starch and a 24 month trial with cooked starch. At the same time a reproduction study was conducted, over 3 generations with 2 litters per generation, using both uncooked and cooked irradiated starch. The parent generation (Fo) was randomly selected from animals in the feeding study and after the production of the F1a and F1b generations they were returned to that study. Control groups corresponding to each form of starch were established. They were fed the same diet except that the starch was not irradiated. The results of the various investigations conducted during the study (behavior, growth, mortality, haematology, serum biochemistry, histopathology) did not reveal any toxicological effect due to treatment, nor any effect on reproduction. No significant differences were shown between treated and control group.