Natural tocopherols in a dietary supplement of lutein affect tissue distribution of tocopherols in young rats

The effects of graded levels of Flora GLO (FG), a dietary supplement containing lutein derived from marigold flowers, on tissue concentrations of lutein and α- and γ-tocopherol were determined. Six groups of male weanling Fischer 344 rats (15/group) were fed ad libitum modified AIN-93G diets containing 0%, 0.30%, 0.60%, 1.20%, 2.40%, or 4.80% FG for eight weeks. FG provided 0%, 0.015%, 0.030%, 0.060%, 0.120%, or 0.240% lutein; corresponding levels of tocopherols were ~0%, 0.006%, 0.012%, 0.023%, 0.046%, and 0.092%, respectively. Maximal uptakes of lutein in plasma, spleen, and liver were observed with 4.8% FG. Lutein was not detectable in brain, heart, lung, testes, and kidney. Concentrations of αtocopherol in the plasma (μg/mg triglycerides) were reduced in all rats fed FG (p < 0.05). αTocopherol increased nonlinearly in lung, heart, and spleen with increased FG level. αTocopherol in liver increased with increased dietary FG; αtocopherol in kidney, testes, and brain did not increase. At each dietary leve...