The Fate of Methylcellulose in the Human Digestive Tract

Machle, Willard; Heyroth, Francis F.; Witherup, S.

doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(18)71999-6

Cited by 30 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In an older study (Machle et al., ) with two male adults and one 10‐year‐old girl, it was shown that nearly the entire MC (up to > 95%) was excreted via faeces, practically unaltered, within 3 days. In each experiment, 10 g of MC were given orally in a single dose, except in one experiment, where 5 g were given.…”

Section: Biological and Toxicological Datamentioning

confidence: 97%

Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives

Younes¹,

Aggett²,

Aguilar³

et al. 2018

EFS2

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Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of microcrystalline cellulose (E 460(i)), powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)), methyl cellulose (E 461), ethyl cellulose (E 462), hydroxypropyl cellulose (E 463), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (E 464), ethyl methyl cellulose (E 465), sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (E 466), enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose (E 469) and cross-linked carboxy methyl cellulose (E 468) as food additives. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) 'not specified' for unmodified and modified celluloses. Celluloses are not absorbed and are excreted intact in the faeces; in addition, microcrystalline cellulose, powdered and modified celluloses could be fermented by the intestinal flora in animals and humans. Specific toxicity data were not always available for all the celluloses evaluated in the present opinion and for all endpoints. Given their structural, physicochemical and biological similarities, the Panel considered it possible to readacross between all the celluloses. The acute toxicity of celluloses was low and there was no genotoxic concern. Short-term and subchronic dietary toxicity studies performed with E 460(i), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 466 and E 469 at levels up to 10% did not indicate specific treatment related adverse effects. In chronic toxicity studies performed with E 460(i), E 461, E 463, E 464, E 465 and E 466, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) values reported ranged up to 9,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day. No carcinogenic properties were detected for microcrystalline cellulose and modified celluloses. Adverse effects on reproductive performance or developmental effects were not observed with celluloses at doses greater than 1,000 mg/kg bw by gavage (often the highest dose tested). The combined exposure to celluloses (E 460-466, E 468 and E 469) at 95th percentile of the refined (brand-loyal) exposure assessment for the general population was up to 506 mg/kg bw per day. The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses (E 460(i); E 460(ii); E 461-466; E 468 and E 469). The Panel considered an indicative total exposure of around 660-900 mg/kg bw per day for microcrystalline, powdered and modified celluloses.

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Section: Biological and Toxicological Datamentioning

confidence: 97%

Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives

Younes¹,

Aggett²,

Aguilar³

et al. 2018

EFS2

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“…The stability of MC to digestion or fermentation by colonic bacteria to absorbable hydrolysates is substantiated by the finding that rats fed 14 C-labeled MC do not excrete 14 C-labeled methanol or its metabolites in the urine nor is radioactivity found in the tissues (4). Although MC is very stable in the digestive tract, Machle et al (3) demonstrated that incubation of MC with human feces for 2 days resulted in about 30% lower recovery. More recently, the incubation of human colonic bacteria with MC of viscosity grades 15, 1500, and 4000 from 4 to 24 h resulted in significant decrease of alcohol precipitated organic matter but without the evolution of methane, other volatile gases, or short chain fatty acids (5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since humans ingest MC its toxicology in short and long-term animal feeding studies has been reviewed with the conclusion that consumption has no adverse effects (2). Human subjects fed MC excreted 65 to 100% of the ingested polymer (3). Most of the excreted MC was inferred to be of high molecular weight since it was precipitated by hot water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of Ingested Methylcellulose in the Rat Determined by Polymer Molar Mass Measurements by Light Scattering

Yokoyama

Knuckles

Davis

et al. 2002

J. Agric. Food Chem.

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Methylcellulose (MC) is ingested by humans in food and pharmaceutical formulations. The functional properties of MC like those of other linear polymers depend primarily on polymer length or molar mass for largely linear polymers. Although many studies in animals and humans have shown complete excretion of MC, in vitro human fecal fermentation studies indicate that MC can be degraded and presumably lose some of its functionality. In this study, MC polymer distribution in the feces from rats fed a diet containing 8% methylcellulose were compared to the fed MC. The water-soluble polymers in the feces were separated by a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and the polymer distributions determined by multiple angle laser light scattering (MALLS). Detection of the fluorescent MC-calcofluor complex was used to confirm the identity of the eluting MC peak. All dietary MC was recovered in the feces. There is a small shift (P < 0.06) in the weight-averaged molecular weight of polymer distribution of MC extracted from the feces to 2.71 +/- 0.15 x 10(5) g/mol from 3.15 +/- 0.02 x 10(5) g/mol in the standard. There is also an increase in the polydispersity from 1.21 in the standard to 1.8 in the fecal extract. The distribution of the substituted methoxylated glucose monomers by gas chromatography also confirms the stability of MC fed to rats. The amount of actual hydrolysis is estimated to be about 0.1 glycosidic linkage/molecule. MC is not easily determined by standard dietary fiber methods, and SEC with MALLS and/or fluorescence may be a useful alternative.

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Synthetic Polymers—Cellulosics, Other Polysaccharides, Polyamides, and Polyimides

Kim,

Hamilton

2023

Patty's Toxicology

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This chapter will focus on cellulose and its derivatives, polyamides, such as nylon, and polyimides. Natural polymers are biological macromolecules and are as old as life itself. The natural polymers include such diverse materials as proteins, polypeptides, polysaccharides, DNA, RNA, wood, wool, and silk. The word polymer is derived from the Greek words poly, or many, and meros, or parts. Natural cellulose is mainly used to produce paperboard and paper. With various chemical treatments, many different types of modified cellulose are prepared. For example, cellulose gum, or sodium carboxyethylcellulose (CMC), is widely used as a cost‐effective thickener and stabilizer in food and beverages. In addition to modifying the behavior of water, cellulose gum is useful in modifying flow, adding texture, and enhancing mouthfeel. A wide range of cellulose gum grades with different viscosities, molecular weights, degrees of substitution, and particle sizes are used in food and beverages. Polyamides occur both naturally and artificially. Examples of naturally occurring polyamides are proteins, such as wool and silk while artificially made polyamides are nylons and aramids. These synthetic polyamides are commonly used in textiles, automotive industry, home care, and sportswear due to their high durability and strength. Polyimide materials are lightweight, flexible, resistant to heat and chemicals, and are used in the electronics industry for flexible cables and as an insulating film. Due to the high mechanical stability even at elevated temperatures, polyimide materials are used as bushings, bearings, sockets, or constructive parts in demanding applications.

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The Fate of Methylcellulose in the Human Digestive Tract

Cited by 30 publications

References 4 publications

Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives

Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives

Stability of Ingested Methylcellulose in the Rat Determined by Polymer Molar Mass Measurements by Light Scattering

Synthetic Polymers—Cellulosics, Other Polysaccharides, Polyamides, and Polyimides

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