Hepatotoxicity induction in mice after acute DL-lactic acid intake

DL-Lactic acid and its salts are added to food as acidulants. pH control ag ents, leavening agents, nutrient supplements and seasonings. However, the b asic data concerning the safety and toxicity of these compounds are insuffi cient. In this article, we examined induction of hepatotoxicity and nephrot oxicity in mice after acute intake of DL-lactic acid. Body weight change, s erum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity, serum urea nitrogen (SU N) concentration, liver and kidney weights, and renal lipid peroxide level could not be affected significantly in mice at 4 h after intraperitoneal ad ministration of DL-lactic acid at 1.2 mmol/kg, indicating no induction of t oxicity in the liver and kidney. In contrast, at 20 h after the treatment, SGPT activity, liver weight and lipid peroxide level were enhanced signific antly, suggesting induction of hepatotoxicity. However, SUN concentration, kidney weight and lipid peroxide level could not be affected significantly at 20 h after the treatment, indicating no induction of nephrotoxicity.