title: Subchronic toxicity evaluation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rats.
abstract: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid compound contained in vegetables such as tomatoes and also widely distributed in mammals. GABA acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and promotes parasympathetic activity to provide several beneficial effects, for instance, relaxation, anti-stress, and insomnia. GABA, produced via a fermentation process, has been available as a functional food ingredient. As part of a program to assess its safety, GABA was administered by oral gavage at doses of 500, 1250, and 2500mg/kg body weight to groups of 10 male and 10 female Sprague-Dawley rats for 13weeks. Treatment was not associated with the test substance-related mortality and appeared to be well tolerated. There were no toxicologically and statistically significant changes in urinalysis, hematology, clinical chemistry parameters, and in necropsy findings. A few statistically significant changes in food consumption and body weights were noted in the male groups while any significant changes were not noted in female groups. There was no effect of treatment on organ weights or on the results of the histopathological examinations. The results of toxicity evaluation support the safety use of GABA and the potential use as a functional food ingredient.
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan. Electronic address: k-takeshima@pharmafoods.co.jp.
authors: Kazuhito
authors: K
authors: Takeshima
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan.
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Yamatsu
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan.
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Yamashita
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan.
authors: Kazuya
authors: K
authors: Watabe
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan.
authors: Noriko
authors: N
authors: Horie
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan.
authors: Kazuyuki
authors: K
authors: Masuda
authors: Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd., 1-49 Goryo-Ohara, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8605, Japan.
authors: Mujo
authors: M
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic / Q000379:methods*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
keywords: GABA; Subchronic rat; Toxicity