Effects of vitamin E deficiency on total polyunsaturated fatty acids in rats and chicks

The total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of tissues of vitamin E-deficient rats and chicks has been measured by the lipoxidase method. 2. Vitamin E deficiency did not depress total PUFA in rat liver, kidney, heart, spleen, brain, adrenal and adipose tissue during experimental periods up to 13 months. 3. Liver PUFA was not depressed by deficiency of vitamin E and selenium in rats at 9 weeks or 8 months of age. 4. Rats given a muscular dystrophy-producing diet (containing oxidized cod-liver oil) showed a severe depletion of PUFA in muscle, but not in kidney or adipose tissue. 5. Exudative diathesis induced in chicks by a deficiency of vitamin E and Se did not depress liver PUFA. 6. It is considered that in vitamin E deficiency there is no general decrease in PUFA due to peroxidative loss. Changes of a more specific nature occur, as found by other workers.