Lymphatic and portal absorption of vitamin E in aging rats

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Abstract
We studied the intestinal absorption and lymphatic versus portal distribution of vitamin E and its metabolites in vivo in young (4 month), “middle-aged” (14 month), and old (24 month) male Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty-four hours after its surgical preparation, the rat's jejunum was infused with a physiological micellar solution containing 200 nM α-tocopherol. Its transport rate into lymph and bile as well as its accumulation in liver and intestinal tissues was measured. Lymphatic transport of vitamin E increased from 92 to 269 pmol/5 hr and bile appearance of vitamin E and its polar metabolites increased from 230 to 298 pmol/5 hr as rats aged. Tissue accumulation of the vitamin in the small intestine and liver increased significantly with aging (P.