Abstract
The effect of sesame seeds (Kumashiba 1 and 738) on the γ-tocopherol concentration was studied in rats and mice fed on a diet containing 5% sesame seeds for 28 d. Both the α-and γ-tocopherol concentrations in the liver, kidney and brain of the rats were higher than those of the mice. Feeding sesame seeds markedly elevated the γ-tocopherol concentrations in the liver, kidney, brain and serum of the rats, and the elevating effect of 738, a new line that contains a high content of lignans, was higher than that of Kumashiba 1. Feeding sesame seeds to mice did not affect the γ-tocopherol concentrations in the liver and serum. Feeding 738 slightly elevated the γ-tocopherol concentrations in the kidney and brain, although these concentrations were lower than those in the rats. The α-tocopherol concentrations in the kidney and brain of rats fed on the diet containing sesame seeds were higher than those of rats fed on the diet without sesame seeds. These data indicate that the elevating effect on tocopherol concentration of sesame seeds was relatively low in mice.
