Effect of Dietary Squalene on Serum and Hepatic Vitamin AContents and Steroid Metabolism in Rats

Abstract

Alterations in the serum and liver vitamin A contents, and steroid metabolism were investigated inmale Wistar rats by administration of squalene at a dose level of 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0ml/day for 28 days. The following results were obtained: 1) Seborrhea was observed in the rats administered 0.5 and 1.0ml/day of squalene. 2) No significant changes in vitamin A and cholesterol contents in the serumand liver were observed in any of the rats administered any dose of squalene. 3) The squalene contentsof the serum, liver and feces were clearly increased in proportion to the amounts of squalene administered. 4) Fecal excretion of cholesterol and coprostanol was decreased in rats administered 0.5 or1.0ml/day of squalene, while no such phenomena were observed in rats administered 0.1ml/day ofsqualene. 5) Increase in the fecal excretion of some types of bile acid was recognized only in ratsadministered 0.1ml/day of squalene.