Cytogenetic effects of cyclamates

The genotoxic and teratogenic effects of maltitol in rats

In the present study, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the low-caloric artificial sweetener maltitol, which is a sugar alcohol (polyol), were investigated in the bone marrow cells of rats using the chromosome aberration (CA) test. In addition, the teratogenicity and embryotoxicity of maltitol was also investigated in rats. To reveal the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of maltitol, rats were intraperitoneally administered 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg body weight (bw) concentrations of maltitol for 6, 12 and 24 h treatment period. The pregnant females were intraperitoneally treated with 1, 2 and 4 g/kg bw/day concentrations of maltitol during the first 7 days of gestation (first trimester) to investigate the teratogenicity of maltitol. The embryos were collected after killing the dams by cervical dislocation under ether anaesthesia on gestation day 19. Maltitol did not induce the CA and did not decrease the mitotic index in bone marrow cells of rats at all concentrations and treatment periods. In addition, maltitol was not teratogenic; however, it decreased the foetuses weight and at the highest dose (4 g/kg bw) caused growth retardation.

The cytogenetic effects of food sweetener maltitol in human peripheral lymphocytes

The effects of the low-calorie artifical sweetener maltitol (E965), a sugar alcohol (Polyol), on sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosome aberration (CA), and micronucleus formation (MN) were investigated in human peripheral lymphocytes. Maltitol did not induce SCE at all concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL) and treatment periods (24 and 48 h). Maltitol induced CA, although not statistically significantly. Maltitol induced the frequency of MN at 24 and 48 h in a non-dose-dependent manner. In addition, maltitol did not decrease the replication index (RI) and the mitotic index (MI) at all concentrations and treatment periods. Maltitol did not alter the pH and osmolality of the medium. In conclusion, it can be concluded that maltitol has a weak genotoxic potential and it appears non-cytotoxic to human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro.

Assessment of the carcinogenicity of the nonnutritive sweetener cyclamate

The weight of the evidence from metabolic studies, short-term tests, animal bioassays, and epidemiological studies indicates that cyclamate (CHS) is not carcinogenic by itself; however, there is evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies in animals that implies it may have cancer-promoting or cocarcinogenic activity. Epidemiological studies indicate that the use of nonnutritive sweeteners (CHS and saccharin) has not resulted in a measurable overall increase in the risk of bladder cancer in individuals who have ever used these products. No epidemiological information exists on the possible associations of these sweeteners and cancers other than those of the urinary tract. It is recommended that (1) no further studies on the metabolism of CHS to evaluate its carcinogenicity are required since no potentially hazardous metabolites have been appreciably detected in humans; (2) no further animal bioassays to test for the carcinogenicity of CHS by itself are necessary; (3) the studies in rodents that suggest a promotional or cocarcinogenic effect of CHS should be repeated because they cannot be ruled out; (4) because the significance to human health of a positive outcome of such studies is uncertain, additional research aimed at understanding the predictive value for human health of such results and more generic studies to develop well-validated systems that can be relied on in the assessment of cancer-promoting agents are recommended; (5) in populations where CHS continues to be used, epidemiological monitoring should be continued to determine whether there is an increased risk of cancer in humans who are heavy or long-term users or for those observed long after first exposure. In such monitoring, other cancer sites--in addition to the bladder--should be considered.

Toxicological aspects of cyclamate and cyclohexylamine

In the late 1960s the artificial sweetener cyclamate was implicated as a bladder carcinogen in rats. This finding and other concerns about its safety ultimately led to a ban on cyclamate in the U.S. and restrictions on its use in many other countries. Since that time, the carcinogenic potential of cyclamate and cyclohexylamine, its principal metabolite, has been reevaluated in a group of well-controlled, well-designed bioassays that have failed to substantiate the earlier findings. This review of the published and unpublished literature on cyclamate attempts to evaluate the carcinogenicity question and other important aspects of the toxicity of cyclamate and cyclohexylamine, including their effects on various organ systems, their genotoxic potential, and their effects on reproduction. In addition, the physiological disposition of cyclamate is reviewed, with particular attention directed toward the site and extent of its conversion to cyclohexylamine.