Action of Different Fats and Linoleic Acid on Biosynthesis of Niacin in Rats

Abstract

The conversion of tryptophan to niacin in male albino rats fed different high fat diets was studied. While high fat diets were found to suppress the conversion of tryptophan to niacin, the effect was more pronounced in rats fed saturated fats than those kept on unsaturated ones. Saturated fats were observed to decrease, on long term feeding, the urinary and tissue levels of niacin to a greater extent than unsaturated fats. Supplementation of linoleic acid to hydrogenated fat restored niacin status to some extent, as compared with rats fed saturated fats alone.