Distribution of the fat soluble antioxidants (a-tocopherol, retinol and f3-carotene)‎ in the blood and other tissues of camel (camelus dromedarius

Abstract EN

Concentrations of antioxidants vitamins a-tocopherol, retinol and /3-earotene were measured in plasma, red blood cells, plasma lipoprotein fractions, and in some selected tissues of the camel (Came/us dromedarius).

Red blood cells contained 46% of total blood a-tocopherol, 61% of blood /3-earotene,and only 13% of blood retinol present in the total blood volume.

This distribution pattern may reflect a possible role for atocopherol and /3-earotene in the protection of camel erythrocytes from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

Plasma a-tocopherol level was low suggesting inadequate vitamin E intake and/or a fast turnover rate.

Furthermore, the relatively low plasma and tissue levels of a-tocopherol may be related to the high vitamin A level.

a-Tocopherol was equally distributed between the LDL and HDL fractions of plasma lipoproteins, whereas retinol and /3-carotene were mostly associated with the HDL fraction.

Levels of atocopherol and retinol were positively correlated with both cholesterol and total lipids in the LDL fraction, but were correlated only with cholesterol in the HDL fraction.

On the other hand, /3-carotene was negatively correlated with cholesterol in the HDL rich fraction.

These results suggest the importance of lipoproteins in the transport of retinol, atocopherol and /3-earotene in camel plasma.

In comparison with other tissues, the liver contained the highest amount of retinol, whereas /3-carotene was mostly concentrated in the hump and sketal muscle.

Heart muscle contained the highest amounts of a-tocopherol as compared to other tissues