Bioavailability of vitamin E in rats fed graded levels of pectin.

Dietary pectin at levels of 0, 3, 6 and 8% was fed ad libitum to rats for 8 wk to evaluate whether the bioavailability of vitamin E fed at 0.001% of the diet was affected by pectin. Rats fed 3% pectin were not different in any vitamin E parameters from those fed 0% pectin. By the end of the study body weights were significantly lower in the 6 and 8% pectin groups after adjusting for their nonsignificant trend of lower food intake. At wk 8, liver vitamin E levels were reduced in the 6 and 8% pectin group compared to values at the start of the study. Both groups had significantly higher red blood cell hemolysis compared to 0% pectin at 8 wk. Fecal fat excretion was not different among the diet groups, but weights of the small and large intestines were significantly increased in rats fed 6 or 8% pectin compared to those fed 0 or 3%. Our results show that 6 and 8 but not 3% dietary pectin decreased vitamin E availability in rats.