Study supports safety of ADM and Burcon’s canola protein isolate

The commercially available Supertein ingredient, developed jointly by the two companies, did not produce any adverse effects on eye and blood health, biochemistry, or organ weight following 13 weeks of feeding to laboratory rats, according to findings published in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology​.

The study, led by Luis Mejia from Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), established a ‘no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) equivalent to 12.46 grams per kilogram of body weight for males and 14.95 grams per kilogram of body weight for females.

A reduction in body weight was observed in the test animals, but being associated with an overall reduction in food intake, the researchers concluded that this was not an adverse event associated with Supertein.

“The napin-rich canola protein isolate was considered safe under the tested conditions,”​ wrote the researchers.

Safe range of applications​

When Supertein was launched in 2004 it was described as a "low molecular weight protein"​ and therefore "more comparable to an egg white"​.

“The napin-rich canola protein isolate forms transparent solutions, has good foaming properties and is suitable for use in food applications such as beverages, confectionary, aerated desserts and bars,”​ explained the researchers.

“The NRCPI is rich in sulfur-containing amino acids. Since [this] protein isolate is aimed for human consumption, we have undertaken an extensive evaluation of [its] safety,”​ they added.

80 animals, 13 weeks​

Mejia and his co-workers divided 80 Sprague Dawley rats into four equal groups and fed them a standard animal diet (AIN-93G) supplemented with 5, 10, or 20 percent of the protein isolate or the diet with 20 percent vitamin-free casein.

After 13 weeks of the diets, no adverse events related to “ophthalmology, functional observations, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights and macroscopic or microscopic findings”​ were observed by the researchers.

Lower weight gain was recorded in male animals in the 10 percent NRCPI group, and in both sexes in the 20 percent group, they added. This was associated with a reduction in overall food intake, noted the researchers.

“Therefore, the lower weight gain in the10 and 20 percent test article-treated groups was not considered an adverse event,”​ they added.

Source: Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology​
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2009.09.008
“A 13-week dietary toxicity study in rats of a Napin-Rich Canola Protein Isolate”​

Authors: L.A. Mejia, C.K. Korgaonkar, M. Schweizer, C. Chengelis, M. Novilla, E. Ziemer, P.S. Williamson-Hughes, R. Grabiel, M. Empie