Short-term feeding study of lauric diethanolamide in rats

Abstract

A short-term feeding study has been carried out on lauric diethanolamide (LDE) in the rat. Dietary levels of 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% for 90 days evoked no adverse effect on the appearance or condition of the animals. Growth retardation was associated with diminished food intake, at and above the 0.5% level. Food refusal was demonstrably due to an effect of the test material on palatability of the diet. Terminal haematological examination revealed a reduction in the haemoglobin level, haematocrit and red cell count at the 1 and 2% levels in females but less pronounced effects were seen in males. Serum levels of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase were elevated at dietary levels of 0.5% and above in females but only at 0.5% in males. No untoward effect was observed in the renal function tests. The principal organ weight changes were: increases in the relative kidney weight in all test groups except at 0.1% in females and at 0.1 and 0.5% in males; and increases in the relative liver weight in females on the two highest levels. The types and incidence of histological lesions were comparable in control and test groups. A no-effect level was established of 0.1% LDE in the diet of rats for 90 days, a level equivalent to 50 mg/kg/day.