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Abstract
A trial was designed to assess the effect of fat supplementation (amount and type of fatty acids) on vitamin E bioavailability in adult cockerels.
A total of 60 birds were force-fed three different diets: a semi-purified diet without added fat (Control diet) or supplemented with 3% fat as linseed (Linseed diet) or hydrogenated coconut oil (Coconut diet). The three experimental diets were also supplemented with dl-α-tocopheryl acetate to provide 40 mg vitamin E per bird.
After one week of depletion, blood was collected from the wing vein before (baseline) and 6, 12, 24 and 96 h after the gavage. Plasma samples were analysed for their α-tocopherol, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations.
Results showed that the addition of 3% fat in the experimental diet increased post-gavage plasma α-tocopherol response by 153% for Linseed diet and by 75% for Coconut diet (P < 0.0001) compared to the Control group. Furthermore, the plasma α-tocopherol response observed with the Linseed diet was 44% greater than that observed with the Coconut diet (P < 0.0001). There was no effect of treatments on either plasma triglycerides (P = 0.91) or cholesterol (P = 0.45) responses.
In conclusion, this study shows that the addition of 3% fat to the diet significantly increases dl-α-tocopheryl acetate bioavailability in adult cockerels. Supplementation of fat rich in unsaturated fatty acids also leads to a higher dl-α-tocopheryl acetate bioavailability than fat rich in saturated fatty acids.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to the staff of the Centre of Expertise and Research in Nutrition (CERN) of Adisseo France SAS (Commentry, France): A. Bonnichon, S. Compin, M. Guilhot, S. Le Guern, R. Peyras, N. Regrain, P. Reliant and T. Gohin for their precious assistance in animal care and to F. Rouffineau for his help with the statistical analysis. Authors also appreciated the outstanding work done by F. Brossard, T. Cutard, P. Ludwiczak and D. Payan (CARAT laboratory, Adisseo France SAS, Commentry, France) in getting the lab analyses performed.