Genta Susana B, Cabrera Wilfredo M, Grau Alfredo, Sánchez Sara S
Departamento de Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas y Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Chacabuco 461, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Nov;43(11):1657-65. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2005.05.007.
Yacon roots are a rich source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and have a long use tradition as food in the Andean region. However, there are no published reports regarding their toxicology and use safety. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of subchronic (4-months) oral consumption of dried yacon root flour as a diet supplement using normal Wistar rats. Two daily intake levels were used, equivalent to 340 mg and 6800 mgFOS/body weight, respectively. Yacon administered as a diet supplement was well tolerated and did not produce any negative response, toxicity or adverse nutritional effect at both intake levels used. Yacon root consumption showed no hypoglycemic activity in normal rats and resulted in significantly reduced post-prandial serum triacylglycerol levels in both doses assayed. Conversely, serum cholesterol reduction was not statistically significant. Cecal hypertrophy was observed in rats fed only the high dose. Our results indicating lack of toxicity and a certain beneficial metabolic activity in normal rats warrant further experiments with normal subjects and patients suffering metabolic disorders. They should also be considered when establishing the regulatory framework of this natural product by national health authorities and international trade agencies.
亚贡根是低聚果糖（FOS）的丰富来源，在安第斯地区作为食物有着悠久的使用传统。然而，关于其毒理学和使用安全性尚无公开报道。本研究的目的是使用正常的Wistar大鼠分析亚贡根干粉作为膳食补充剂进行亚慢性（4个月）口服摄入的影响。采用了两个每日摄入量水平，分别相当于340毫克和6800毫克FOS/体重。作为膳食补充剂给予的亚贡耐受性良好，在所使用的两个摄入水平下均未产生任何负面反应、毒性或不良营养影响。食用亚贡根在正常大鼠中未显示出降血糖活性，且在两个测定剂量下均导致餐后血清三酰甘油水平显著降低。相反，血清胆固醇降低无统计学意义。仅喂食高剂量的大鼠出现盲肠肥大。我们的结果表明在正常大鼠中缺乏毒性和一定的有益代谢活性，这需要对正常受试者和患有代谢紊乱的患者进行进一步实验。国家卫生当局和国际贸易机构在建立这种天然产品的监管框架时也应予以考虑。
