Identification and quantification of acetyl triethyl citrate metabolites: Insights from in vitro and in vivo analysis

초록

Acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC), a citric acid ester used as an alternative to phthalate plasticizers, has raised concerns due to reported hepatotoxicity, lipid metabolism disruption, and embryotoxicity. However, data on human metabolites remain limited. This study aimed to identify ATEC metabolites via in vitro and in vivo approaches and establish a method for urinary quantification. In vitro experiments using human liver microsomes (HLM) identified acetyl diethyl citrate (ADEC), triethyl citrate (TEC), and diethyl citrate (DEC). In contrast, human oral administration revealed ADEC, acetyl monoethyl citrate (AMEC), and DEC in urine. ADEC and DEC were synthesized and quantified as reference standards, confirming their biomarker potential. Following oral administration, 37 % of the ATEC dose was excreted in urine as ADEC and DEC within 48 h, indicating their role as major metabolites. These findings provide baseline data for assessing human exposure to ATEC and highlight the need for further investigation of AMEC.

키워드