Monosodium L(+) tartrate toxicity in two year dietary feeding to rats

Abstract

Monosodium L(+) tartrate was fed to rats in their diet for a total period of two years at levels of 25 600, 42 240, 60 160 and 76 800 ppm. The survival of rats receiving 42 240, 60 160 or 76 800 ppm was superior to that of the controls and probably correlated with the lower food intake of these groups and the resultant reduced bodyweight gain. There were no adverse clinical signs and the investigation of the animals' eyes, blood and urine did not reveal any reaction to treatment, nor were changes related to treatment seen in the macroscopic pathology or organ weights of rats killed aftr 104 weeks. Histological examination of the tissues did not show evidence of toxicity or tumour induction that could be attributed to treatment with monosodium L(+) tartrate.