Effect of feeding cod liver oil on the fate of radiotocopherol in sheep

The metabolism of a single dose of 3 H-DL-α-tocopherol was studied in 16 sheep fed a dystrophy-producing hay alone or supplemented with cod liver oil. During the experimental period, which lasted for 5 days after the radioisotope dosing, radioactivity was higher in the rumen liquor of cod liver oil fed sheep than in those which received only hay. Significantly lower levels of radioactivity were found in the non-saponifiable material of various tissues of cod liver oil fed sheep than in the corresponding tissues of the unsupplemented animals. By means of column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, and radioautography the bulk of liver radioactivity was identified as unchanged α-tocopherol. Possible reasons for the difference in tissue radioactivity levels between cod liver oil fed and unsupplemented sheep are discussed.