Tocopherol (Toc) content of egg yolks was determined by the TLC-Colorimetric method of Tsugo
et al. and some factors affecting their content were investigated. The results were followings.
1. The average Toc content of 40 egg yolks from seven sources were : α-Toc 19.3±7.6, γ-Toc 10.0±4.0μg/g. There is a great variation of Toc content among eggs. δ-Toc content was 0.3 μpg on an average, but in many cases below 0.1. The ratio of α-Toc/γ-Toc was 2 on an average and deviated from 1 to 3.
2. The consecutive eggs from a hen had almost the same content of Toc, but there was a large variation among eggs from different hens of a same flock.
3. Single oral dose of each 30 mg of α-, γ- and δ-Toc to a hen gave a maximum value of her egg Toc content after 5 days and greatly transferred into the egg yolks after 4-6 days. Amount of α-, γ- and δ-Toc transferred into egg yolks were each 18.0%, 4.8% and 1.0% of Toc dosed.
4. Giving 10mg/day of α-Toc acetate to a hen daily, Toc content of egg yolks was definite after the 12th day and the transferring efficiency (egg yolk Toc/Toc given) was 18.2 on the average but deviated among individual hens.
5. Shell eggs which were wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in a sealed container at 15°C, showed no change of Toc content during storage of 23 days.
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