TOXIC EFFECTS OF BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE ON RATS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (2) , 195-201
Abstract
A study involving 96 weanling rats of both sexes was conducted to evaluate the effects of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT] on the plasma and liver lipid components. Comparative observations were made of the effects of variations in the dietary content of BHT in ad lib. and underfed rats. A sex difference in the effects of BHT was noted. BHT had a greater deleterious effect on the growth of the male than of the female rat, especially at the 0.5% dietary level (P < 0.01). At this level, it also increased the relative weight of the liver (P < 0.01) but had little effect on brain, heart and kidney in both sexes. The enlarged liver showed a marked elevation in the concentration of total lipids and of both total and esterified cholesterol. There were striking increases in the plasma total and esterified cholesterol and phospholipid levels in the BHT treated animals but the triglycerides remained unaffected. The results were more manifest in animals with restricted dietary intake. The changes observed in the lipid components occurred in parallel with the increasing amounts of the antioxidant in the diet. The effect of BHT on lipid metabolism is discussed.