Effects of Erythrosine on Triiodothyronine, Thyroxine, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Thyroid Peroxidase

Abstract

Groups of 10-15 male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing erythrosine (FD & C Red No. 3) at levels of 0 (control), 0.25, 1.0, or 4.0% for 2 weeks. An increase in thyroxine (T4) and a decrease in triiodothyronine (T3) levels, and an inhibition of thyroid peroxidase activity (TPO) were observed at higher dosage levels. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the treated and control groups in the values for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The observed effects appeared to depend to some extent on the particle size of the administered erythrosine.