FETAL PIG VITAMIN-E STATUS

18 Gilts (2 per diet group) were fed a diet containing either no fat, tallow (5%) or fish oil (5%) and one of 22, 44 or 88 IU vitamin E/kg d iet from day 57 of gestation. Blood plasma taken from the gilts at day s 57, 78 and 90 of gestation increased in vitamin E content as gestati on progressed, but there was no effect of dietary oil or vitamin E lev el in the diet. Maternal blood contained 7-13 times as much vitamin E as fetal blood sampled on day 90. Fetal blood vitamin E was not affect ed by the maternal dietary vitamin E content. Fetal body weights and a bsolute tissue weights were heavier in fetuses of mothers eating fish oil diets, but tissue vitamin E levels in these fetuses were lower tha n in fetuses from mothers eating diets without fish oil.