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Biological effects of food additives. II. —sodium pyrophosphate
Author(s) -
Datta P. K.,
Frazer A. C.,
Sharratt M.,
Sammons H. G.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740131102
Subject(s) - pyrophosphate , sodium , urine , ingestion , chemistry , phosphate , medicine , intraperitoneal injection , endocrinology , toxicity , feces , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , paleontology , organic chemistry
The acute effects of oral and parenteral sodium pyrophosphate on rats have been examined, with determination of the intraperitoneal LD 50 and the cause of death. Sodium pyrophosphate was included for 16 weeks at 1%, 2 1/2% and 5% levels and sodium orthophosphate at a 5% level in the diet of rats. The effects were assessed by examining gain in body weight, food intake, renal and hepatic function, blood cell counts, organ weights and gross pathology and micropathology. Calcium and phosphorus balance studies were carried out on some groups. Faeces and urine have been analysed for content of pyrophosphate. The intraperitoneal LD 50 of sodium pyrophosphate was 233 mg./kg., whereas the oral LD 50 was probably greater than 4 g./kg. The cause of death was not established. The low oral acute toxicity, the balance studies and the analyses of faeces and urine all suggest that pyrophosphate is converted to orthophosphate in the body. The site of such a reaction is being further studied. The longer term studies indicate that a 1% level of pyrophosphate in the diet of rats caused renal damage. The relevance of the finding to the ingestion of phosphate by man is discussed. Further studies are desirable on the metabolism of pyrophosphate and on the assessment of a safe phosphate intake for man.