The effects of chronic administration of chlorite to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient healthy adult male volunteers.

Under controlled laboratory conditions, the safety of daily ingestion of 5 ppm chlorine dioxide, chlorite and chlorate by normal healthy adult males has been established. To determine the effect upon potentially susceptible individuals, a parallel chronic human investigation was undertaken. Study subjects were three healthy adult males deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. These volunteers received 500 ml of sodium chlorite at a concentration of 5 ppm daily for twelve consecutive weeks; the subsequent observation period extended an additional eight weeks. Upon evaluation of an extensive battery of tests designed to measure the biochemical and physiological response to chlorite ingestion, no clinically significant changes were detected.