The mutagenic and teratogenic effects of maltitol in rats

In the present study, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the low caloricartifical sweetener maltitol, which is a member of sugar alcohol (poliol), wereinvestigated in rats bone marrow cells using chromosome aberration test (CA). Inaddition, the teratpgenicity and embryotoxicity of maltitol was also investigated inrats. To appear the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of maltitol, rats wereintraperitonally administered 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg b.w. concentrations of maltitol for 6,12 and 24 hours treatment times. The pregnant females were intraperitonally treatedwith 1, 2 and 4 g/kg b.w./day concentration of maltitol during the first 7 days ofgestation for investigation of teratogenicity of maltitol. The embrios were collectedafter sacrified of dams by servical dislocation under ether anesthesia on the gestationday 19.Maltitol did not induce the CA and did not decrease the mitotic index in bonemarrow cells of rats at all concentrations and treatment periods. In addition, maltitolwas not teratogenic however, decreased the fetuses weight and at the highest dose (4g/kg b.w.) caused to growth retardation.Key Words: Maltitol, Mutagenicity, Teratogenicity, Embryotoxicity, Chromosomeaberrations