ALTERATIONS IN PLASMA TOTAL AND HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS FED DIETS WITH VARIED CONTENT OF SELENIUM AND VITAMIN-E

The effect of dietary selenium and vitamin E on plasma total (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) was evaluated in 54 Spragu e Dawley rats fed cholesterol/cholic acid enriched diets. Diets 1, 2, and 3 had no added selenium (low Se) and 0 (low), 60 (adequate), and 6 00 (high) mg/kg dL alpha tocopheryl acetate added respectively. Sodium selenite at 0.2 mg/kg (adequate Se) was added to diets 4, 5, and 6 an d at 4.0 mg/kg (toxic Se) to diet 7, 8, and 9 with the same pattern of vitamin E added to the diet as described above. TC and HDLC were meas ured using the Kodak Ectachem system. Rats in the low and adequate Se groups fed high vitamin E had lower TC values than rats fed lower vita min E levels but differences were not significant. In the toxic Se gro ups, rats fed high vitamin E had significantly (p < 0.05) higher plasm a TC values than did lower Vitamin E groups. Rats on the high vitamin E diets with low or adequate Se had significantly (p < 0.05) higher me an plasma HDLC values when compared to rats fed low or adequate vitami n E diets. HDLC values for animals on Se toxic diets were significantl y (p < 0.05) lower in rats fed a low vitamin E diet. In rats fed Se de ficient and adequate diets, a high vitamin E intake resulted in a decr ease in TC and an increase in HDLC. In Se toxic rats, TC was elevated by a high dietary intake of vitamin E as was HDLC with both values bei ng significantly higher than values found in the vitamin E deficient r ats. Vitamin E deficiency resulted in a plasma lipid pattern that has been associated with greater cardiovascular disease risk.