American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 30, 1629-1637, Copyright © 1977 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Effect of large amounts of vitamin E during pregnancy and lactation

MM Martin and LS Hurley

The effects of excessive intake of vitamin E during gestation and lactation on female rats and their progeny were studied. Pregnant rats receiving large doses of vitamin E (22.5 to 2252 mg/kg per day) had larger livers, higher levels of lipids and vitamin E in plasma, and higher concentrations of vitamin E in the livers than did controls. These deviations from normal were not, however, observed for all levels of supplementation. No obvious teratogenic effects were observed in the newborn young of the vitamin E-supplemented rats. Some eye abnormalities were seen in the older pups of rats given extremely high amounts of the vitamin. The survival rate, weight of the pups, and litter size were unaffected. However, the pups of the mothers who had received 500 mg of vitamin E per day (2252 mg/kg per day) during gestation and lactation had a much higher concentration of vitamin E in their livers and plasma than did controls. This study also confirmed the observation that vitamin E transfer across the placenta is negligible and that mammary transfer of this vitamin is quite efficient.