Studies of the toxicological potential of capsinoids XIV: a 26-week gavage toxicity study of dihydrocapsiate in rats.

To further evaluate the safety of dihydrocapsiate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl 8-methylnonanoate, CAS No. 205687-03-2), a 26-week gavage toxicity study was conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats (20/sex/group). Test animals received either dihydrocapsiate, 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg/day, or vehicle (medium-chain triglyceride) by gavage and were observed for antemortem and postmortem signs of toxicity including changes in clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, clinical pathology (clinical chemistry, hematology, urinalysis), tissue findings (macroscopic and microscopic examination), as well as organ weights. After the end of the dosing period, reversibility was assessed (10/sex/group for the control and 1000 mg/kg groups) following a 4-week recovery period. There were no adverse or toxicological changes observed in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, water intake, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry, organ weights, or histopathology. It was concluded that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) of dihydrocapsiate was 1000 mg/kg/day for both sexes in this 26-week gavage study.

Criteria for the safety evaluation of flavoring substances. The Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association.

The current status of the GRAS evaluation program of flavoring substances operated by the Expert Panel of FEMA is discussed. The Panel maintains a rigorous rotating 10-year program of continuous review of scientific data related to the safety evaluation of flavoring substances. The Panel concluded a comprehensive review of the GRAS (GRASa) status of flavors in 1985 and began a second comprehensive review of the same substances and any recently GRAS materials in 1994. This second re-evaluation program of chemical groups of flavor ingredients, recognized as the GRAS reaffirmation (GRASr) program, is scheduled to be completed in 2005. The evaluation criteria used by the Panel during the GRASr program reflects the significant impact of advances in biochemistry, molecular biology and toxicology that have allowed for a more complete understanding of the molecular events associated with toxicity. The interpretation of novel data on the relationship of dose to metabolic fate, formation of protein and DNA adducts, enzyme induction, and the cascade of cellular events leading to toxicity provides a more comprehensive basis upon which to evaluate the safety of the intake of flavor ingredients under conditions of intended use. The interpretation of genotoxicity data is evaluated in the context of other data such as in vivo animal metabolism and lifetime animal feeding studies that are more closely related to actual human experience. Data are not viewed in isolation, but comprise one component that is factored into the Panel's overall safety assessment. The convergence of different methodologies that assess intake of flavoring substances provides a greater degree of confidence in the estimated intake of flavor ingredients. When these intakes are compared to dose levels that in some cases result in related chemical and biological effects and the subsequent toxicity, it is clear that exposure to these substances through flavor use presents no significant human health risk.

The FEMA GRAS assessment of cinnamyl derivatives used as flavor ingredients.

This publication is the seventh in a series of safety evaluations performed by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). In 1993, the Panel initiated a comprehensive program to re-evaluate the safety of more than 1700 GRAS flavoring substances under conditions of intended use. Elements that are fundamental to the safety evaluation of flavor ingredients include exposure, structural analogy, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. Flavor ingredients are evaluated individually and in the context of the available scientific information on the group of structurally related substances. Scientific data relevant to the safety evaluation of the use of cinnamyl derivatives as flavoring ingredients is evaluated.

Needle biopsy of the liver: an aid in the differential diagnosis of prolonged jaundice in infancy

Needle biopsy of the liver has been carried out in 25 infants aged 3 weeks to 18 months in whom normal bleeding, coagulation and prothrombin times had been determined. In 14 subjects the jaundice was secondary to biliary atresia and in 11 to hepatitis. The technique of biopsy is described. The histologic criteria for the differentiation of hepatitis and biliary atresia have been outlined. According to the criteria described above, 12 of 14 biopsies in cases of biliary atresia and 6 of 11 biopsies in patients with hepatitis have been adequate for diagnosis. In five patients, the correct diagnosis of biliary atresia was made on the basis of the biopsy specimen when certain findings were more suggestive of hepatitis. The actual or potential value of needle biopsy in avoiding unnecessary laparotomy is described in four subjects with hepatitis. Needle biopsy, by permitting early definitive diagnosis, may be an aid in avoiding the development of biliary cirrhosis in patients with types of biliary atresia amenable to surgical correction (SUMMARY)