Abstract
Monitoring of expiratory pentane was used as a non-invasive method to measure endogenous lipid peroxidation in chicken for the first time. Pentane is generated during breakdown of ω6-fatty acid hydroperoxides. Main problems with this method are the simultaneous metabolism of the hydrocarbons and the alkanes of intestinal origin. To overcome these limitations we performed kinetic studies for calculation of the actual production while taking into account the effect of metabolism. The influence of intestinal pentane was investigated by using fasted animals. Iron injection was employed to enhance endogenous lipid peroxidation. Under the conditions of a feeding experiment, pentane production rates were increased in animals brought up on oxidized fat, and dietary vitamin E reduced this effect. The influence of the intestinal hydrocarbons on pentane production rates were minimized by using fasted animals, as most of the pentane produced in fed animals originates from the gut.
