Effect of Subacute Oral Intake of the Food Antioxidant Butylated Hydroxyanisole on Clinical Parameters and Phase-I and -II Biotransformation Capacity in Man

Abstract

A study is presented in which eight healthy male non-smoking volunteers ingested a daily amount of 0.5 mg/kg butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for 10 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken on days -6 and 0 before and on days 4 and 7 after the first BHA administration for the assessment of standard clinical plasma parameters (L-aspartate aminotransferase, L-alanine-aminotransferase, L-gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, Na⁺, and Cl^-). Antipyrine (500 mg p.o.) and paracetamol (500 mg p.o.) were administered before and during BHA administration as test substances to measure phase-I and phase-11 biotransformation capacity. Saliva samples and urine were subsequently collected for the assessment of kinetic parameters (e.g. saliva elimination half-life, saliva clearance, apparent volume of distribution) and urinary excretion of metabolites. Kinetic plasma parameters of BHA itself were determined in plasma samples obtained via a catheter in an arm vein after oral BHA intake on days 0 and 7. Levels of antipyrine, paracetamol, BHA and metabolites in plasma, saliva or urine were quantified by standard or newly developed reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Urinary excretion of Na⁺, K ⁺, and Cl^-, as well as osmolality of urine were measured on three days before and six days during BHA administration.

Generally, no significant differences were detected in the parameters measured, indicating that oral administration of BHA to men for 10 days remains without effects on clinical biochemical parameters and phase-I and phase-II biotransformation capacity. In contrast, urinary excretion of metabolites of BHA was significantly increased on days 3 and 7 vs. the first day of BHA administration. This may result either from an induction or inhibition of BHA-specific phase-I and -II metabolizing enzymes in man, or from a bioaccumulation of BHA and/or its metabolites in the body.