MAGNESIUM DIHYDROGEN DIPHOSPHATE

Comments:

Although an acceptable daily intake (ADI) “not specified”b has been established for a number of magnesium salts used as food additives, the estimated chronic dietary exposures to magnesium (960 mg/day for a 60 kg adult at the 95th percentile) from the proposed uses of magnesium dihydrogen diphosphate are up to twice the background exposures from food previously noted by the Committee (180–480 mg/day) and in the region of the minimum laxative effective dose of approximately 1000 mg of magnesium when taken as a single dose. The estimates of dietary exposure to phosphorus from the proposed uses of magnesium dihydrogen diphosphate were in the region of, or slightly exceeded, the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) of 70 mg/kg body weight (bw) for phosphate salts, expressed as phosphorus, from this source alone. Thus, the MTDI is further exceeded when other sources of phosphate in the diet are taken into account. The Committee therefore concluded that the proposed use levels and food categories result in an estimated dietary exposure to magnesium dihydrogen diphosphate that is of potential concern. The Committee emphasized that in evaluating individual phosphate-containing food additives, there is a need for assessment of total dietary exposure to phosphorus. The Committee recommended that total dietary exposure to magnesium from food additives and other sources in the diet should be assessed. The information submitted to the Committee and in the scientific literature did not indicate that the MTDI of 70 mg/kg bw for phosphate salts, expressed as phosphorus, is insufficiently health protective. On the contrary, because the basis for its derivation might not be relevant to humans, it could be overly conservative. Therefore, the Committee recommended that the toxicological basis of the MTDI for phosphate salts expressed as phosphorus be reviewed.

Specs Code:

N

Report: 

Tox Monograph: 

Specification: