Effects of vitamin E supplementation on renal tissue vitamin E concentration in male rats

Alpha-tocopherol is a well known antioxidant present in foods. This vitamin has been studied in the past in the prevention and treatment of neoplasms in human and in animals, however, the effects of supplementation on the lipids of the tissues has yet to be discovered. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between DL-alpha tocopherol supplementation and the tissue content of renal and hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations. In a two week study, twenty-four male Fisher 344 rats were randomly assigned into three groups: 75 IU D-alpha-tocopherol, 355 IU D-alpha-tocopherol, and 750 IU D-alpha-tocopherol. Renal total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were not significantly different among treatment groups. Hepatic total cholesterol concentration were not significantly different among treatment groups. However, there were significant differences in hepatic triglycerides concentrations between the 75 IU D-alpha-tocopherol and the 355 IU and 750 IU groups. Results of this study showed that the supplementation of D-alpha-tocopherol increase hepatic triglyceride content but had no effect on hepatic total cholesterol, or renal total cholesterol and triglyceride.