Health risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) cultivated for food or feed is under debate throughout the
world, and very little data have been published on mid- or long-term toxicological studies with mammals. One of these studies
performed under the responsibility of Monsanto Company with a transgenic corn MON863 has been subjected to questions from
regulatory reviewers in Europe, where it was finally approved in 2005. This necessitated a new assessment of kidney pathological
findings, and the results remained controversial. An Appeal Court action in Germany (Münster) allowed public access in June
2005 to all the crude data from this 90-day rat-feeding study. We independently re-analyzed these data. Appropriate statistics
were added, such as a multivariate analysis of the growth curves, and for biochemical parameters comparisons between GMO-treated
rats and the controls fed with an equivalent normal diet, and separately with six reference diets with different compositions.
We observed that after the consumption of MON863, rats showed slight but dose-related significant variations in growth for
both sexes, resulting in 3.3% decrease in weight for males and 3.7% increase for females. Chemistry measurements reveal signs
of hepatorenal toxicity, marked also by differential sensitivities in males and females. Triglycerides increased by 24–40%
in females (either at week 14, dose 11% or at week 5, dose 33%, respectively); urine phosphorus and sodium excretions diminished
in males by 31–35% (week 14, dose 33%) for the most important results significantly linked to the treatment in comparison
to seven diets tested. Longer experiments are essential in order to indicate the real nature and extent of the possible pathology;
with the present data it cannot be concluded that GM corn MON863 is a safe product.