Effects of selenium deficiency on vitamin E metabolism in rats

The metabolism of radioactive vitamine E in selenium deficient rats has been compared to the metabolism of this vitamin in rats supplemented with 0.1 ppm selenium as sodium selenite in the diet. After dosing with tritiated alpha tocopherol, the plasma level of radioactivity remained elevated through 48 hours in deficient rats. In contrast, a decline to nearly background levels occurred within 12 hours in the supplemented rats. The uptake and release of radioactivity in the erythrocytes and liver were found to be more rapid in deficient rats than in supplemented ones. A 65% greater increase in excretion of radioactivity occurred in the urine from deficient rats as compared to supplemented ones. These data indicate that vitamin E is metabolized more rapidly in selenium deficient rats than in supplemented ones.