Betaine

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

The study for oral acute toxicity was conducted according to OECD technical guideline 401, in accordance with GLP. LD50-value in rats was determined to be 11179 mg/kg bw. For acute dermal toxicity, it is unnecessary and unjustified to test the toxicity of betaine, based on the results of skin irritation and skin sensitisation testing. For inhalation toxicity testing, it is scientifically unjustified and technically not possible to carry out the testing based on the properties of the substance.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

29 NOV 1989 to 30 JAN 1990

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Remarks:

The study was performed following OECD TG 401 in GLP conditions. T

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 401 (Acute Oral Toxicity)

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Test type:

standard acute method

Limit test:

yes

Species:

rat

Strain:

Crj: CD(SD)

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

Animals: young adult CD strain female rats, supplied by Charles River (UK) Ltd. Margate, Kent, England, 4 weeks old upon arrival.
Housing: The animals were bred and housed under barriered conditions in a limited access facility. The housing conditions were under daily monitoring (T = 18-25C, relative humidity 40-70%). 12 hours light cycle was employed.
Diet: commercially-available complete pelleted diet (Laboratory animal diet No1, from Biosure, Manea, Cambridgeshire, England) without restrictions, except removal of food 18 hours before administration of test material.

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

water

Details on oral exposure:

Single oral administration

Doses:

5000, 10000, 12500, 15000 and 20000 mg/kg bodyweight

No. of animals per sex per dose:

5

Control animals:

no

Details on study design:

Pre-exposure period: Clean cages were prepared the day before delivery of the animals. On arrival, each animal was inspected before being aceepted. All animals were weighed on arrival and the range of bodyweight was recorded. Five animals of the same sex were non-selectively allocated to each cage. Tail tattoos identifying each individual within the cage were made within one day of delivery. The sex of each animal was checked at the same time.An acclimatisation period of atleast six days was allowed. A daily check of the condition of the animals was made. Food was removed at approx 1700 hours on the day before dosing. Each cage was labelled with details of the schedule number, unique cage reference number, treatment regime, animal identification numbers and sex of occupants, Project License umber and responsible licensee. Pre-fasted bodyweight was recorded on the day prior to dosing and ranged for male s107-139g and for females 102-128g.
Administration: given betaine anhydrous dose was dissolved 40 ml /kg bodyweight. Flexible catheter (8-choke) was passed down the oesophagus allowing instillation of the dose into the lumen of the stomach.
Observation period: three separate inspections were made during the first hour after dosing and two further inspections during the remainder of day 1. From day 2 onwards, the animals were inspected twice daily (morning, afternoon). The type, time of onset and duration of reactions to treatment and circumstances of any death were recorded. The bodyweight was recorded at days 1,8 and 15, the test was terminated on day 15.
Necropsy: carcases were stroed at +4C until trained necropsy staff were available. Necropsy was thoroughly studied, all abnormalitites were described or the normal appearance or major organs was confirmed.

Statistics:

Probit analysis was employed to determine the acute median lethal dosage, 95% confidence interval and slope of the dose response curve of the test material for both sexes. The calculations were performed by the GLIM statistics program using a special macro program.

Sex:

male

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

>= 11 204 mg/kg bw

95% CL:

>= 8 616 - <= 13 792

Remarks on result:

other: Slope (degrees) 88

Sex:

female

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

> 11 148 mg/kg bw

95% CL:

> 9 929 - < 12 367

Remarks on result:

other: Slope (degrees) 83

Sex:

male/female

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

> 11 179 mg/kg bw

95% CL:

> 10 454 - < 11 904

Remarks on result:

other: Slope (degrees) 85

Mortality:

Dosage (mg/kg), male, female, combined
5000, 0/5, 0/5, 0/10
10000, 0/5, 1/5, 1/10
12500, 5/5, 4/5, 9/10
15000, 5/5, 5/5, 10/10
20000, 5/5, 5/5, 10/10

Clinical signs:

other: Following symptoms were recorded per dose per time per animal: lethargy, decreased motor activity, prone posture, ataxia,musculature - tremor, bradypnoea, hyperpnoea, piloerection, ungroomed appearance, hunched posture and death. With 5000 mg/kg: decreas

Gross pathology:

Necropsy observations per dose group:
5000 mg/kg: no significant lesions
10000 mg/kg: no significant lesions, one dead female yellow ventral staining, yellow serous fluid in stomach, small intestine and caecum
12500 mg/kg: dead individuals exhibit externally yellow/brown muzzle and perianal staining, internalyl yellow ventral staining, yellow serous fluid in stomach, small intestine and distented caecum
15000 mg/kg: mainly no significant lesions
20000 mg/kg: dead individuals exhibit externally yellow/brown muzzle and perianal staining, internalyl yellow ventral staining, yellow serous fluid in stomach, small intestine, distented caecum and darkened brain.

Interpretation of results:

GHS criteria not met

Conclusions:

The defined LD50-value for betaine is 11179 mg/kg (female/male), and it can be considered as practically nontoxic. The LD50-value is well above of the limit for classification (2000 mg/kg).

Executive summary:

An acute oral toxicity study was perfomed according to OECD Guideline 401. Male and female rats (5/sex) were administered single oral doses of 5000, 10000, 12500, 15000, or 20000 mg/kg. The defined LD₅₀-value for the test substance is 11179 mg/kg (female/male).

Endpoint conclusion

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Value:

11 179 mg/kg bw

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

Acute toxicity via oral route was determined by an OECD guideline study to be ca. 11200 mg/kg bw, therefore betaine is of low toxicity via this route.

Dermal toxicity does not cause a concern since betaine is widely used in cosmetic preparations to improve human skin health and has been tested safe for this purpose. Therefore, further testing is omitted.

Inhalation toxicity does not cause a concern since it is an unlikely route of exposure due to many physico-chemical properties: particle size is too large (>100 micrometer), betaine is hygroscopic (powder forms clumps easily, making inhalation toxicity studies difficult to perform) and vapour pressure (ca. 0.05 Pa). Taking all this into consideration in addition to the metabolism of betaine and low toxicity via oral route, inhalation toxicity testing is unnecessary and unjustified.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Oral toxicity: Not classified according to EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP) Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, LD50 -value of ca. 11200 mg/kg betaine is above the limit of 2000 mg/kg for classification.

 

Dermal toxicity: Not classified according to EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP) Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, betaine has been tested for skin irritation and sensitisation and found not to have any irritative or sensitative properties. Additionally, betaine is commonly used in cosmetic products to improve skin health as an anti-irritative.

 

Inhalation toxicity: Not classified according to EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP) Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, physico-chemical properties and metabolism of betaine indicate that there is no risk associated with inhalation toxicity.