Comparison of the Effects of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Milk Powder Matrix and Standard Water on Oxidative Stress System of Zebrafish

Abstract

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and furfural (FF) are products of the Maillard reaction (MR) in milk powder and their safety is controversial. The concentration changes in 5-HMF and FF after a period of cold storage were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Then, we compared the toxicity effects of 5-HMF (2, 20, or 200 µM) in milk powder matrix and standard water on the oxidative stress system of zebrafish embryos. The results showed that the concentration of 5-HMF was stable, and the concentration of FF degraded over time. 5-HMF-exposed zebrafish embryos had a LC50 value of 961 µM for 120 h. High-concentration 5-HMF exposure resulted in developmental toxicity and induced oxidative stress. 5-HMF exposure resulted in low expression of gstr gene at 200 µM in both matrices; moreover, sod, cat, gstr, and gpxla genes were differentially highly expressed in other groups or showed no significant difference. Residual levels in all groups were well below the exposed dose, with a maximum value of only 4‰. These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the effects of 5-HMF exposure in milk powder matrix on the oxidative stress system and suggested that the presence of 5-HMF in our daily consumption of milk powder does not produce significant toxic effects and need not be overstressed.