Absence of in vivo mutagenic potency of heated and fried oils in mice.

The mutagenic potency of heated and fried oils (under laboratory conditions), viz. peanut, sesame and coconut oils were studied employing two well validated in vivo mammalian assays, viz. bone marrow micronucleus assay and the sperm morphology assay in albino mice. In the bone marrow micronucleus assay oral doses of fresh, heated and fried oils (7.5 ml and 30.0 ml/kg body weight) did not induce any increase in the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. Intragastric administration of oils at the highest dose (30.0 ml/kg body weight/day) for 5 consecutive days in male mice did not produce any morphological effect either on the testicular or epididymal weights and histology. No significant alterations were observed in the caudal sperm counts at any of the sampling intervals and also there was no treatment related increase in the incidence of sperm head abnormalities. It is concluded that controlled thermal treatment as well frying of these oils did not produce appreciable amount of mutagens which could be detected under in vivo situations.