4-WEEK ORAL TOXICITY STUDY WITH ERYTHRITOL IN RATS

Erythritol was orally administered to Wistar rats at dietary levels of 0, 5, and 10% for 4 weeks. Soft stools and diarrhea were observed in male and female animals of the 10% group and in female animals of the 5% group. These symptoms disappeared during the course of the study. M ean body weights of male rats in the high-dose group were significantl y lower than those of controls during the course of the study. No such differences were observed in females. Small statistically significant changes in certain hematological, clinical chemistry, and urine param eters were noted in the high-dose group but were judged not to be biol ogically important. Weights of the cecum were increased relative to th ose of the controls. No treatment-related histological changes were ob served. No ill effects, other than early diarrhea, were observed from erythritol levels at 5 or 10% in the diet. Eased on these results, it was concluded that the feeding of erythritol at a dietary level of 10% did not result in toxicologically significant effects. (C) 1996 Acade mic Press, Inc.