[Hepatotoxicity induction in mice after acute DL-lactic acid intake]

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