INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN-E SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE ANTIOXIDATIVE METABOLISM OF YOUNG-PIGS AT DIFFERENT INTAKES OF LINOLEIC-ACID

To characterize the antioxidative metabolism of young pigs influenced by different vitamin E and linoleic acid concentrations in the diet, the in vitro pentane production of the liver microsomes, the alpha-tocopherol concentration in total liver and liver microsomes, and the fatty acid content of the liver microsomes were investigated. Increased vitamin E concentrations in the diet resulted in decreased pentane production, increased alpha-tocopherol concentration of total liver and microsomes and reduced absolute content of total fatty acids of the microsomes. However, the n-6-fatty acids decreased to a smaller degree than the saturated fatty acids. Increased supplementation with linoleic acid resulted in an elevated pentane production when the vitamin E concentration of the diet was low. The alpha-tocopherol concentration of total liver and microsomes were not influenced by increased supplementation of linoleic acid, however, the monoenoic fatty acid content of the microsomes was reduced.