Subchronic toxicity evaluation of potato protein isolates

The protein content of potatoes has a high nutritional value on par with eggs and soybeans. As a result, processed potato protein isolates may have commercial value for addition to other food products to increase protein content. A manufacturing process has been developed to produce total potato (TP), as well as low (LMW) and high molecular (HMW) weight, protein isolates as food ingredients. To assess the safety of these isolates, groups of 10 Wistar rats/sex were administered dietary admixtures containing 15% HMW, 7.5% LMW or 15% TP protein isolates for a period of 90 days. There was no effect of treatment on clinical signs, mortality, body weight and body weight gain. No biologically significant changes occurred in hematological and clinical chemistry parameters. No statistically significant changes in organ weights were recorded. Histopathological analyses revealed no clear, treatment-related changes. A slight increase in the incidence, but not severity, of vacuolation of the zona fasciculate of the adrenal gland was noted in males of the 15% HMW and 7.5% LMW groups. The finding was not considered adverse or ascribed any toxicological significance. Overall, HMW, LMW, and TP protein isolates were well-tolerated and without adverse effect. These data support the safety of potato protein isolates. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.