Co-Authors:
Sklan, D., Fac. Agric., Hebrew Univ., Rehovot 76100, Israel
Bartov, I., Fac. Agric., Hebrew Univ., Rehovot 76100, Israel
Hurwitz, S., Fac. Agric., Hebrew Univ., Rehovot 76100, Israel
Abstract:
Chickens and turkeys were fed from hatching basal diets to which tocopherol was added at levels of 10, 50 and 250 mg/kg for 28 days. During the last 4 days [3H]tocopherol and 141Ce were included in the diets. Plasma and liver tocopherol levels were correlated with dietary tocopherol in both chickens and turkeys, but concentrations were 1.5-4.5-fold lower in turkeys. Disappearance (absorption + catabolism) of tocopherol between feed and lower ileum was 78-80% of the ingested vitamin, and no significant differences were found with dietary intake or between chickens, and turkeys. Of the 3H-labeled material found in the duodenum, 24-40% was not extractable by organic solvents and comprised mainly tocopheryl glucuronides. The duodenal secreation of glucuronides increased with dietary tocopherol intake, and less than 30% of the secreted glucuronides were reabsorbed by the small intestine. The duodenal organic solvent-extractable 3H contained 30-40% material that appeared to be tocopheryl quinone. This proportion increased with distance from the pylorus. Turkeys excreted 2.5- to 7-fold more glucuronides than chickens. This explains in part the lower plasma and tissue concentrations of tocopherol observed in turkeys.