effects of Vitamin E on bodyweight and fat mass in intact and ovariectomized female rats

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin E deficiency and supplementation on body weight and body composition in intact and ovariectomized growing female rats. One hundred and twenty female Wistar rats aged 3 months were ovariectomized [OVX] or left intact [sham-operated]. The intact and OVX rats were divided into 6 groups and given different dietary treatments, i.e. vitamin E deficient diets [VED, 75%VED, 50%VED, 25%VED], normal rat chow diet [RC] and rat chow with oral supplementation of 30mg/kg body weight of alpha -tocopherol [RC+ATF]. Body weight of intact and OVX rats in the RC and the RC+ATF groups showed increased significantly after 15 weeks of dietary treatment. Intact and ovariectomized rats fed with VED, 75%VED, 50%VED and 25%VED did not gain weight after 15 weeks. OVX rats had significantly higher body weight than intact rats in the 50%VED, 25%VED, RC and RC+ATF groups. Fat mass of intact rats was increased only in the RC and RC+ATF groups. For OVX rats, fat mass was increased in the VED, 50%VED, RC and RC+ATF groups. OVX groups had significantly higher fat mass when compared with intact groups, however, the significance was greater for the RC and RC+ATF groups. Other parameters of body composition were not significantly affected. In conclusion, vitamin E played an important role in the weight gain of female rats and the gain was primarily due to the increase in fat mass, irrespective of the effect of ovariectomy. Alpha-Tocopherol supplementation conferred little benefit compared to giving RC diet alone in both the intact and ovariectomized female rats. The results also indicate that excessive vitamin E intake might contribute towards obesity in female rats