Fatty Acid Composition as Influenced by Dietary Fatty Acids and Vitamin E Status in the Rabbita

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Weanling New Zealand rabbits received a semipurified diet containing either semipurified oleic acid or semipurified linoleic acid, both with and without vitamin E. Rabbits receiving the oleic acid without vitamin E failed to develop skeletal muscle degeneration at 12 weeks, in comparison to marked degeneration at 8 weeks in the comparable group receiving linoleic acid. This would indicate that vitamin E requirements were very low when oleic acid was in the diet. Gallstones, composed largely of cholesterol, were plentiful in rabbits receiving oleic acid at 12 weeks, and a few were noted in rabbits receiving linoleic acid at 8 weeks. The gallstones were slightly more plentiful in females than males, but were not greatly influenced by the vitamin E status. The influence of the dietary fatty acid upon the fatty acid composition of the liver, kidneys, heart, adipose deposits, skeletal muscle, and thoracic aorta was profound. The liver of rabbits receiving oleic acid was slightly less affected than the other organs, while the heart and adipose deposits of rabbits receiving linoleic acid were affected slightly more than the other organs. The sex did not appreciably influence the organ fatty acid percentages. Minor differences in fatty acid percentages were noted between rabbits receiving vitamin E and their deficient counterparts.