Recently we developed a new water-soluble dietary fiber, an indigestible dextrin (PF-C) obtained through heat and enzyme treatment of potato starch. The physiological functions of PF-C, such as improvement of glucose tolerance and lowering of serum cholesterol level, have been confirmed.
We conducted acute toxicity and mutagenicity studies, and further, we examined the effect of PF-C on bowel movement in rats as part of a safety evaluation. The results can be summarized as follows. (1) The oral LD₅₀ value of PF-C in mice was estimated to be more than 20.0g/kg body weight. (2) No mutagenicity was observed in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA^-. (3) The excretion ratio in feces after single administration of PF-C was estimated to be 36% in rats. (4) A periodical increase of cecum weight and a decrease in pH in cecum contents were observed in rats fed a PF-C-supplemented diet. (5) Transit time of food was significantly shorter in rats fed a PF-C-supplemented diet than that in control rats.