Lack of Chronic Oral Toxicity of Chemopreventive Bovine Lactoferrin in F344/DuCrj Rats

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to determine whether bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and related compounds, shown toprevent carcinogenesis in the colon and other organs in rats, have any toxic effects in long-term feeding studies.In experiment I, male F344/DuCrj rats received a basal diet containing 0.2% bLF for 40 weeks. No adversefindings were noted, furthermore, serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased to 72% of the controllevel, suggesting preventive effects against the metabolic syndrome. In experiment II, male and female F344/DuCrj rats were fed a basal diet containing 0.02, 0.2, 2.0 and 5.0% bLF, 2.0% bLF hydrolysate (bLF-H) or 0.1%lactoferricin (LFcin), a peptide derived from bLF, for 60 weeks in males and 65 weeks in females. No toxicologicaleffects, including carcinogenicity, were evident in either sex. The results of the studies provide subjective supportfor safety of clinical studies of bLF for supplement use.