Dietary Copper Salts and Azo Dye Carcinogenesis

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Abstract
The incidence of liver tumors in rats resulting from the feeding of 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene was markedly lowered by the addition of high levels of copper salts (300 p.p.m. of Cu) to the diet. This could be attributed largely to the destruction of azo dye catalyzed by the copper, resulting in actual feeding of a lower dye concentration. Analyses for liver azo dye and riboflavin of rats fed the dye in the presence of high dietary copper showed decreased concentration of the dye and a slower rate of decrease in riboflavin concentration. These results are compatible with decreased dye intake. A diet low in copper (1 p.p.m.) had no effect upon azo dye carcinogenesis or upon liver azo dye or liver riboflavin when compared to a normal diet containing 4 p.p.m. of copper.