Dietary vitamin E supplementation does not inhibit Candida albicans intestinal translocation in rats

Candida albicans translocation was determined in rats receiving a normal or vitamin E-supplemented and deficient diet submitted to mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion (MIR). The antioxidant effect of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation was also assessed. The animals were divided into six groups submitted to different diets for 30 d. Groups N, NI, NC and NIC were submitted to a normal diet and used as controls, and groups VITE and DEFE received a vitamin E-supplemented and vitamin E-deficient diet, respectively. Groups NIC, VITE and DEFE were submitted to MIR, inoculated with Candida albicans and sacrificed 24 h after the surgical procedure. The antioxidant effect of vitamin E was determined in the liver and gut mucosa using the TBARS method. Candida albicans translocation was assessed in lymph node, liver and kidney specimens. The results showed that lipid peroxidation was lower (p < 0.05) in the vitamin E-supplemented group. However, vitamin E supplementation did not protect the rats against Candida albicans translocation (the translocation in the Group VITE was 100% for lymph nodes).