Preliminary toxicological investigations of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG). I: Study of acute toxicity and of teratogenic activity in rats and mice.

The acute toxicity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) was studied in mice. The LD50 was shown to be 7.33 g/kg p.o. and 3.23 g/kg i.p. Subtoxic and pharmacological doses applied to mice and rats during gestation did not induce malformation of the foetuses and offspring and did not affect the reproductive performances of the dams. This compound is being investigated for its hypolipidemic activity.