Abstract: | Short-Time Feeding Tests with Methyl Esters of Dimeric Fatty Acids Fatty acid methyl esters ex safflower oil were polymerised at high temperature and separated by distillation. Feeding experiments with rats at a level of up to 50 cal-% in the food showed the highest degree in growth retardation with those fractions which contained esters of dimeric fatty acids. Esters of dimeric fatty acids of well defined structure, were fed to mice per os to determine acute toxicity. With the compounds applied the toxicity was far higher than 20 ml/kg body weight. After feeding radiocarbon labelled dimeric fatty acid esters, it could be shown that a high percentage of the material fed was excreted. However, a small amount is metabolised since 14CO2 was observed in the exhaled air, and radioactive monomeric fatty acids were found in the body fat. Finally a small amount of the labelled dimeric fatty acids fed to the rats was recovered from the body fat indicating direct incorporation. |