title: Vitamin E in fortified cow milk uniquely enriches human plasma lipoproteins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Milk fat may contribute to atherogenesis in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to offset the atherogenic potential of milk fat by adding polyunsaturated fat and vitamin E to milk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and tocopherol and LDL oxidation in normolipemic adults. In experiment 1 (n = 48), we compared delivery of 100 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/d in capsules, skim milk, and 1%-fat milks containing soybean oil, milk fat, or both (1:1). In experiment 2 (n = 24), we compared delivery of natural (RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) and synthetic (all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) vitamin E in milk with delivery of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate in orange juice (200 mg/d in each group). In experiment 3 (n = 7), we compared delivery of 30 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/d in milks with and without added vitamins A and D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enrichment of milk fat with soybean oil did not alter plasma lipoproteins. Microdispersion of vitamin E in milks increased the molar ratio of plasma tocopherol to cholesterol by >2-fold compared with the molar ratio after consuming vitamin E capsules, whereas the molar ratios were comparable after ingestion of orange juice and capsules. Synthetic and natural vitamin E performed comparably. The enhanced plasma vitamin E:cholesterol attributed to milk increased protection of LDL against oxidation. Vitamins A and D did not affect vitamin E delivery by milk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Milk augments vitamin E transport by human lipoproteins at intakes of 100-200 but not 30 mg/d. This augmentation is independent of the presence and type of fat in milk, its vitamin A and D contents, and whether the vitamin E is natural or synthetic.
authors.affiliation: Foster Biomedical Research Laboratory, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254, USA. kchayes@brandeis.edu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pronczuk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perlman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013024:Soybean Oil; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014810:Vitamin E; D013024:Soybean Oil