Safety evaluation of sweet lupine ( Lupinus albus cv. Multolupa). II. Nine-month feeding and multigeneration study in rats

Abstract

Sweet lupine Lupinus albus cv. Multolupa) flour containing 41.7% protein and 0.025% lupanine was fed for 9 months to two generations of rats (F 1 and F 2) at a level that provided 20% dietary protein. The diets were supplemented with 0.2% dl-methionine. The control diet provided the same dietary protein level from defatted soya-bean flour, fish meal and dried skimmed milk. The lupine diet had no effect on the general condition, mortality or behaviour of the animals. The growth rate of males fed sweet lupine was significantly higher than that of the controls. Haematological parameters and tests of liver function were normal in all treatment groups. At autopsy there were no significant changes in the weight of the heart, kidney, spleen, brain and gonads. However, the relative weight of the liver of lupine-fed rats was significantly lower than that in the controls. The histology of the liver, like that of the other organs examined, was normal. The reproduction study did not reveal any adverse effect on fertility or lactation that could be attributed to ingestion of sweet lupine. This investigation did not disclose any deleterious effects through two generations of rats that were fed sweet lupine at a level that provided 20% dietary protein for 9 months.