Abstract
The effects of tocopherols on the toxicity of mild rancid oil to rats were studied. Although the growth of male rats fed the mild rancid oil diet cotaining 10mg of α-tocopheryl-acetate was depressed apparently, the depression was slightly reduced when larger amounts of tocopherols were given to the animals. On the other hand, the growth depression in female rats was not so large as in male rats. Body weight gain of the rancid oil group given a high level of tocopherol was similar to those of fresh oil groups in female rats. Food efficiency was in parallel with body weight gain both in male and female rats.
Enlargement of liver and kidneys was observed in male rats fed rancid oil. The relative proportion of linoleic acid in lipids of liver and adipose tissue in the rancid oil groups was decreased to about a half level of that in the control group.
The serum cholesterol level in the rancid oil group, particularly given larger amounts of tocopherols were higher than in the fresh oil groups.
