Vitamin E levels in superficial and intra-abdominal locations of white adipose tissue in the rat

Concentrations of RRR-α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were measured in white adipose tissue (WAT) from three superficial and three intra-abdominal locations of rats fed diets using low-, normal-, or high-vitamin E content for 3 months. Vitamin E levels in WAT were responsive (P < 0.05) to the amount of the vitamin in the diet. Irrespective of treatment, superficial locations of adipose tissue accumulated four to six times more vitamin E than the intra-abdominal locations. Some of the rats in the low and high vitamin E diet were switched to the opposite diet and the repletion and depletion of the vitamin were monitored for 10, 20, and 30 days after the diet change. Thirty days after the change in diet, WAT from superficial and intra-abdominal locations did not respond during depletion. The deposition of vitamin E in all superficial locations was more rapid than in the intra-abdominal locations after the diet change from low vitamin E to high vitamin E.