Utilization and toxicity of dialdehyde- and dicarboxyl-starches.

SummaryWhen 40% or more of anhydroglucose units of starch are oxidized to dialdehydes, the material is toxic to rats, as manifested by poor growth, increased mortality and testicular damage. No acute toxicity was noted. No toxicity occurred when 2% or less of the units were oxidized, even at levels of 20% of diet. Starch further oxidized to contain 5% of glucose units in the dicarboxyl form, produced no toxic symptoms with as much as 20% of diet consisting of this modified starch, but food intake was increased and utilization decreased, perhaps due to faulty digestion of the dicarboxyl starch.