3 beta-Chlorosteroids: artefacts and possible contaminants in food and feed--toxicological effects in mice.

3 beta-Chlorosteroids, such as cholesteryl beta-chloride and sitosteryl beta-chloride, are formed during the production of protein hydrolysates, which are useful flavour enhancers. These chlorinated steroids may also attract attention as environmental contaminants if they are released from liquid crystal display devices. The effects of orally administered 3 beta-chlorosteroids were tested in female NMRI mice. The animals were fed cholesteryl beta-chloride or sitosteryl beta-chloride at doses of 1 mg and 10 mg/animal/day, that is, 33 mg and 330 mg/body weight/day, over a period of 3 months. Feed intake, body weight and organ weights of the animals, as well as concentration of 3 beta-chlorosteroids in faeces and various organs and tissues showed that cholesteryl beta-chloride and sitosteryl beta-chloride are not acutely toxic compounds. However, chronic toxicity cannot be excluded because small amounts of 3 beta-chlorosteroids, in particular cholesteryl beta-chloride, were absorbed by the intestinal tract and accumulated in adipose tissue. Histopathological examination of sections of organs and tissues showed no indication of irreversible cell damage in the stomach, duodenum, liver, kidneys and spleen caused by the chlorinated steroids.