Effect of graded dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation on concentrations in plasma and selected tissues of pigs from weaning to slaughter.

Five groups of six purebred German Landrace barrows were fed from 7 to 100 kg live weight restricted amounts of a complete basal feed containing 5 IU vitamin E/kg and supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 80 or 160 IU all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg. The concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were analysed by HPLC in plasma collected throughout the experiment and in cardiac muscle, M. longissimus, liver and adipose tissue at slaughter after 24 h fasting. Body mass gain, feed intake and feed conversion rate were not affected by vitamin E. Plasma alpha-tocopherol was related to the logarithm of supplemental dietary vitamin E (r2 = 0.61). A spell of diarrhea was associated with a significant decrease of plasma levels. In tissues, a clear rank-order of vitamin E storage was found with adipose tissue containing the highest concentrations followed by, in order of decreasing concentrations, liver, cardiac muscle and M. longissimus. Tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations were related to the logarithm of supplemental dietary vitamin E. Linear correlations were found between alpha-tocopherol concentrations in plasma and tissues allowing an assessment of tissue vitamin E status from plasma alpha-tocopherol analysis.