Inhibitory effect of fumaric acid on hepatocarcinogenesis by thioacetamide in rats.

An inhibitory effect of fumaric acid (FA) on hepatocarcinogenesis was examined in rats fed thioacetamide (TAA). A group of male DONRYU rats were fed TAA at a level of 0.035% in the diet for 40 weeks and then fed a basal diet for 40 weeks. Hepatic carcinomas developed in 9 of 41 animals of this group fed TAA alone. The effect of FA on the carcinogenesis was examined in 2 groups fed both TAA and FA; one group of rats were fed FA at 1% in a basal diet after ingestion of TAA, and another group of rats were fed TAA plus a supplement of 1% FA in the diet. The inhibitory effect of FA on TAA carcinogenesis was so marked that no hepatic carcinomas were found in both groups fed FA in combination with TAA.