This study was carried out to examine the influence of nutritional status of rats, especially the effect of dietary protein and lipid, on vitamin E transfer among serum, liver and erythrocyte. We observed the effect of the protein source such as milk casein, soybean and levels of protein, and the effect of cholesterol loaded diet and of internal lipid Triton WR-1339 treatment to introduce hyperlipemia.
Following results were obtained.
1) Effect of dietary protein. When rats were fed at levels of 20% and 60% casein in diets for 6 weeks, the concentrations of α-tocopherol in serum, erythrocyte and liver were not different from each other. But rats at 5% casein decreased significantly the concentration of α tocopherol in erythrocyte and of serum a-Toc/T-chol. ratio than did the group of 20% casein. The effects of milk casein and soybean protein, were compared at 10% and 20% levels in diet each other. Soybean protein fed rats showed lower concentration of α-tocopherol in serum, erythrocyte and liver than casein fed rats at the same level of protein. Serum α-Toc/T-chol. ratio of soybean protein fed rats became lower than that of casein fed rats.
2) Effect of lipids. (1) Effect of dietary lipid; To examine the effect of dietary cholesterol on vitamin E status of rats, 0.5% cholesterol loaded diet was administered to rats. In cholesterol loaded group, the concentration of α-tocopherol in liver increased significantly than control group, but that in serum and erythrocyte was not significantly different from control group, although cholesterol level in serum increased. (2) Effect of internal lipid; In rats which were induced hyperlipemia by an in-jection of Triton WR-1339 intravenously, α-tocopherol level in serum increased markedly following with increase of lipid level in serum, reversely the concentrations of α-tocopherol in liver and erythrocyte were decreased. Changes of α-tocopherol level in serum and liver related closely to lipids in them.