Methylglyoxal in beverages and foods: its mutagenicity and carcinogenicity

Methylglyoxal was found to induce mutations in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA102 and TA104, gene conversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D7, and diphtheria toxin resistance mutation in Chinese hamster lung cells. Methylglyoxal was detected in coffee, whiskey, a soft drink, toasted bread and soy sauce. The mutagenicity of methylglyoxal was suppressed by sulfite, cysteine, glutathione and dithiothreitol, and enhanced by hydrogen peroxide. Methylglyoxal induced sarcomas in rats at the site of its subcutaneous injection.