Wheat germ supplementation of a low vitamin E diet in rats affords effective antioxidant protection in tissues.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress is implicated in the etiology of many diseases, but most of clinical trials failed to demonstrate beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation.


METHODS
In the present experiment, we assessed the mean-term effect of wheat germ supplementation, as a dietary source of vitamin E, on antioxidant protection in rat.


RESULTS
Feeding rats a 20% wheat germ diet significantly increased plasma and liver vitamin E levels, compared to the low vitamin E basal diet. Concurrently, wheat germ diet consumption strongly decreased the susceptibility of heart and liver lipids to oxidation, as well as the plasma. Wheat germ feeding did not change triglycerides (TG) nor total cholesterol concentrations in plasma or liver, resulting in higher vitamin E/TG ratio compared to controls. Similar results were found with a diet in which wheat germ oil provided the same amount of vitamin E.


CONCLUSIONS
Wheat germ appears thus very effective to improve antioxidant defense status, especially in tissues, irrespective of modifications of lipids status.
Leenhardt
Fanny
F
INRA Clermont/Theix, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, F-63122 St-Genes-Champanelle, France.
Fardet
Anthony
A
Lyan
Bernard
B
Gueux
Elyett
E
Rock
Edmond
E
Mazur
Andrzej
A
Chanliaud
Elisabeth
E
Demigné
Christian
C
Rémésy
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000652:urine; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine
D000975:Antioxidants; D010938:Plant Oils; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014280:Triglycerides; D014810:Vitamin E; C050055:wheat germ oil; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol