[Animal experimento-toxicologic studies of protein isolates in sunflower seeds]

Safety evaluations of sunflower protein isolates (SPI) obtained by various processes were performed in subchronic (90-day) feeding studies using male and female rats as experimental animals. General appearance, food consumption and efficiency, haematology, kidney function and urine analysis, serum chemistry including determinations of enzyme activities, organ weights and macro- and microscopic pathology were used as criteria to disclose adverse effects. Feeding graded levels of SPI as supplements up to 75% of the total protein of the diet revealed no morphologic and functional changes attributable to toxic effects of the test product at daily intakes up to 13 g/kg body weight. The evaluations of the SPI-variants tested were similar.