Interaction of vitamins E and K: effect of high dietary vitamin E on phylloquinone activity in chicks.

To determine the influence of vitamin E on phylloquinone activity, one day-old chicks were raised on a masch diet supplemented with different amounts of vitamin E for 31 days. In chicks fed a diet high in vitamin E (4000 mg allrac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg) but adequate in vitamin K (0.14 mg phylloquinone/kg) a threefold increase in prothrombin time and an increase in mortality rate (five out of twelve animals died from increased bleeding tendency) was observed. The inhibiting effect of high dietary vitamin E on procoagulant factors could be prevented by increasing dietary phylloquinone supplementation. Weight development, and feed utilization were insignificantly different in chicks fed different amounts and ratios of vitamins E and K1. Plasma and liver alpha-tocopherol levels correlated with dietary amounts of vitamin E. Increased phylloquinone levels in the diet did not significantly influence alpha-tocopherol concentrations in plasma and liver, but coagulopathy caused by high vitamin E intake could be reversed.