The effect of medium-chain triglycerides on the bioavailability of vitamin E.

Overnight fasted, normal rats were fed a single dose of isotopically labeled vitamin E emulsified in either medium-chain or long-chain triglyceride (MCT or LCT). The animals were sacrificed at various time intervals of up to 72 hours. Levels of radioactivity in the small intestinal wall, liver, plasma, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue were higher in animals in which tocopherol was administered in MCT rather than LCT. Thus, the intestinal absorption of vitamin E was enhanced by solubilization in MCT. These findings are consistent with the theory that the gastrointestinal absorption of dietary tocopherol is dependent upon the simultaneous digestion and absorption of the fat in which the vitamin is solubilized.