Acute Oral Toxicity of Soybean Lecithin by Acute Toxic Class Method with Limit Test

Abstract

Introduction: It is known that the Cuban population has increased the consumption of soy lecithin due to the properties attributed to it, but research is still required to corroborate its effects and safety in its consumption for therapeutic purposes.

Objective: To determine the acute oral toxicity of soy lecithin in Wistar rats.

Methods: An experimental study of preclinical pharmacology was carried out in the Laboratory of Antibodies and Experimental Biomodels of the Center of Molecular Immunology (LABEX-CIM) and the Center of Toxicology and Biomedicine of the University of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba, between February and November 2020, in which five female rats of the Wistar line, normopoietic of 200 ± 70g, nulliparous of ten weeks of age were used, with which a limit test was carried out, with observation for 14 days, estimating clinical variables and signs of toxicity defined in the standard as established in the guide of acute oral toxicity, by the method of classes of acute toxicity.

Results: In the rats there was no modification of body weight and no apparent signs of affections were observed except in their gastrointestinal, hemolymphopoietic and integumentary apparatus. During the development of the investigation no animal showed signs of evident toxicity leading to death, according to the criteria described, nor modifications in their macroscopic anatomopathological studies indicating toxicity.

Conclusions: Soy lecithin showed no evidence of toxicity in the acute oral toxicity test. There is reliable evidence that it does not represent a concern for human health, however, further evidence is needed to corroborate that the abuse and chronic dosage of this supplement does not pose a risk, and it is recommended that the toxicological profile of the product be completed.