Effect of diethylstilbestrol, ascorbic acid and vitamin E on serum lipid patterns

The effects of relatively high concentration of vitamin C, vitamin E and diethylstilbestrol, and various combinations of cholestyramine and diethylstilbestrol on the lipid compositions of chicken serum were studied were studied. After DES injection (at concentrations as low as 1 mg/day for 7 days), levels of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol were much higher, the effect being much more pronounced in the hens. Cholestyramine caused a fourfold decrease in cholesterol in females, a 25% reduction males. DES consistently caused a redistribution of the esterfied fatty acids, increasing the percentage of oleic and reducing percentages of stearic and lionelic acids. Preparative TLC analysis of all constituents showed other variations in fatty acid composition, but there was no other common pattern of change. Vitamin E in the diet caused a significant rise in triglycerides and phospholipids in DES treated birds. When vitamins E and C were fed, triglyceride and phospholipid values decreased. Cholesterol concentration did not vary significantly. With birds receiving both vitamins, diethylstilbestrol seemes to have less effect in causing the shift to increase percentage of oleic acids in the total esterified fatty acids.