title: Developmental toxicity study of D-tagatose in rats.
abstract: D-tagatose is a low-calorie sweetener that tastes like sucrose. The developmental toxicity of D-tagatose was investigated in Crl:CD(SD)BR rats administered D-tagatose at three dose levels (4000, 12,000, and 20,000 mg/kg body wt/day) via gastric intubation on days 6-15 of gestation. No compound-related toxicity was seen among any of the maternal groups. No treatment-related clinical effects were seen in the maternal animals at the 4000 mg/kg/day dose level. At the mid- and high-dose levels, most maternal animals had unformed or watery stools; this effect was most prominent early in the treatment period (Gestation Days 6-8). This effect was attributed to the osmotic effect of the large amount of D-tagatose given to the animals at these doses. Since D-tagatose is not digested or absorbed to a large extent, most of the sugar passes into the colon where it absorbs water and is fermented by colonic bacteria. Mean weight gain for the low- and mid-dose animals was comparable to the control; however, the high-dose group experienced a mean weight loss over the Gestation Day 6-9 interval. Over the entire treatment interval, however, mean weight gain for the high-dose animals was comparable to control. The decreased weight gain in the high-dose animals during the Gestation Day 6-9 interval was considered to be a direct result of laxation. In addition to the effect of laxation on body weight, reduced food consumption also contributed to the decreased weight gain. In the low-dose animals, no effect on food consumption was seen; however, both mid- and high-dose animals had food consumption values that were statistically significantly lower than the control. Food consumption was lowest during the Gestation Day 6-9 interval, the period when laxation was most prominent. Food consumption rebounded and was statistically significantly higher than the control for the mid- and high-dose animals during the posttreatment interval. Maternal liver weight for the low-dose animals was comparable to the control. However, a statistically significant increase in mean maternal liver weight was noted for the mid-and high-dose animals. Based on a lack of any corresponding histopathology, the increased liver weights were not considered toxicologically significant. There were no adverse effects on reproductive performance noted in any treatment group. No adverse treatment-related fetal effects on fetal weight, sex distribution, liver weight, or external, skeletal, or visceral malformations were noted at any dose level.
authors.affiliation: Environ Corporation, 4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Frankos
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006601:Hexoses / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006601:Hexoses; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C030192:tagatose