Effects of Two Synthetic Antioxidants, Vitamin E, and Ascorbic Acid on the Choline-deficient Rat

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to determine the effects of two synthetic antioxidants, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), dl-α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on the fatty liver and on the renal and cardiovascular systems of choline-deficient rats. Weanling and 6-week-old male rats were fed caseinpeanut meal diets devoid of choline for 8 and 10 days, respectively. Survivors were fasted and then killed, and tissues collected for serum and liver lipid analyses and for morphologic assessment of tissue damage. Fatty liver, hemorrhagic kidneys and cardiovascular damage characteristic of choline deficiency were observed in deficient animals of both ages. However, BHA and BHT protected rats in both age groups from heart and aorta damage and also prevented renal damage in the 6-week-old group. Mortality was decreased by tocopherol, ascorbate and BHA and BHT, but most notably by the latter two. In weanling rats all additives increased serum lipids and all except ascorbate decreased liver lipids. In 6-week-old rats serum lipids varied, whereas liver lipids were increased by tocopherol and ascorbate and decreased by BHA and BHT. We conclude that tocopherol and BHA and BHT tend to decrease the effects of choline deficiency on the liver, renal and cardiovascular systems whereas ascorbate enhances them. Possible mechanisms for the various effects are discussed.