Effect of long term consumption of Sodium Benzoat before and during pregnancy on growth indexes of Fetal Balb/c mice

Food additives, such as sodium benzoate (SB), are used in many food products and drugs to postpone the growth of microrganisms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of long term consumption of SB on the growth indexes of Balb/c mice. In this experimental study, 30 female Balb/c mice were divided into 2 experimental (I, II) and one control groups. The experimental groups (I, II) daily received 280 and 560 mg/kg of SB intrapretoneally, respectively. The control group received normal saline in the same way. All injections were done during 10 days before gestation, and then, between the 6th and the 15th of gestational days (GD6-15). The mice underwent cesarean section on GD 18 and their embryos were removed. Then, weighing the embryos and measuring their length were done. The embryos were stained with alizarin red and alcian blue and observed by means of a stereomicroscope. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests one-way variance analysis, Tukey, and c 2 at the significant level P<0.05. Mean weight and crown-rump of the fetuses in the experimental group II significantly decreased in comparison with the experimental group I and the control group. The fetal resorption in the experimental groups I and II significantly decreased in comparison with the control group (P=0.04). SB consumption before and during pregnancy can probably induce negative changes of fetal indexes. Thus, it is recommended that pregnant women cautiously use food stuffs containing sodium benzoate, as far as possible.