Comparative Distribution of Tocotrienols in Livers of Suckling and Adult Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare the patterns of hepatic distribution of palm vitamin E (palmvitee) in suckling and adult rats. Suckling and male adult Wistar rats were given palmvitee in a dose of 0, 30 or 60 mg/kg body weight intra peritoneally for 14 days. The palmvitee was administered in the neonates from day 1 of life. It contained alpha-tocopherol (α TP, 21%), α-tocotrienol (alpha T3, 17%), Y -tocopherol ( Y TP, 4%), Y -tocotrienol ( Y T3, 33%) and δ- tocotrienol (δT3, 24%). Twenty-four hours after the last injection of palmvitee, the rats were sacrificed and vitamin E concentrations in the liver of each rat were determined. All isomers of vitamin E were detected in groups given palmvitee. Administration of palmvitee increased total vitamin E and its isomers in suckling rats, and in adult rats that received 60 mg/kg palmvitee compared to the respective control groups. In adult rats given 30 mg/kg palmvitee, all tocotrienol isomers and total vitamin E but not alpha TP and Y TP were raised. The patterns of hepatic vitamin E distribution in both groups of palmvitee-treated neonates and adult rats treated with 60 mg/kg palmvitee corresponded well with the composition of palmvitee used, dissimilar to the adult rats given with 30 mg/kg palmvitee which had the highest proportion in alpha TP concentration (64%). This preliminary study showed that tocotrienols were distributed differently in liver when given at 30 and 60 mg/kg body weight, postnatally or during adulthood.