Effect of graded dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation on concentrations in plasma and selected tissues of pigs from weaning to slaughter.
Five groups of six purebred German Landrace barrows were fed from 7 to 100 kg live weight restricted amounts of a complete basal feed containing 5 IU vitamin E/kg and supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 80 or 160 IU all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg. The concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were analysed by HPLC in plasma collected throughout the experiment and in cardiac muscle, M. longissimus, liver and adipose tissue at slaughter after 24 h fasting. Body mass gain, feed intake and feed conversion rate were not affected by vitamin E. Plasma alpha-tocopherol was related to the logarithm of supplemental dietary vitamin E (r2 = 0.61). A spell of diarrhea was associated with a significant decrease of plasma levels. In tissues, a clear rank-order of vitamin E storage was found with adipose tissue containing the highest concentrations followed by, in order of decreasing concentrations, liver, cardiac muscle and M. longissimus. Tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations were related to the logarithm of supplemental dietary vitamin E. Linear correlations were found between alpha-tocopherol concentrations in plasma and tissues allowing an assessment of tissue vitamin E status from plasma alpha-tocopherol analysis.
Hoppe
P P
PP
Animal Nutrition Research Station, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Offenbach, Germany.
Schöner
F J
FJ
Wiesche
H
H
Stahler-Geyer
A
A
Kammer
J
J
Hochadel
H
H
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014886:Weaning
D014810:Vitamin E