Effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on the lipid composition of rat liver.

Hepatic lipids were studied in Sprague-Dawley male rats given butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT) at a level of 1.20% for 1 week. BHT significantly increased cholesteryl esters and phospholipids but decreased triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids and diglycerides. BHT also increased phosphatidylethanolamine or decreased phosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidylcholine. Fatty acid composition of each lipid class was also changed by BHT-feeding. The decrease in 16 : 1/16 : 0, 18 1/18 : 0 and 20 : 4/18 :2 ratios of total lipids, non-esterified fatty acids or phospholipids of BHT-given rats suggests that BHT decreases the activity of fatty acid desaturase in the liver.