Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium on the Lipid Composition in Serum and Liver of Rats

This experiment was undertaken to investigate ana to compare the effect of vitamin E and selenium on the lipid composition in serum and liver of rats. Net weight gain and food efficiency ratio were elevated by supplementation with selenium and/or vitamin E. The weight of kidney, heart and lung were not affected by the diets. However, liver weight was slightly decreased by supplementation with vitamin E and/or selenium and spleen weight was significantly decreased only by vitamin I supplementation. No differences in serum level of total lipid were found in all groups. Serum cholesterol level was significantly decreased, but the levels of triglyceride and free fatty acid in serum were increased by vitamin E supplementation. Contents of crude lipid, cholesterol, free fatty acid, and triglyceride in liver were significantly decreased by supplementation with vitamin E and/or selenium. In fatty aicd composition of liver, the percentage of linoleic acid(18:2) was the lowest in the selenium-Supplemented group and the significantly lower percentage of arachidonic acid(20:4) was found in the vitamin E and/or selenium-supplemented group in comparision to the deficient basal group.