Medium-Chain Triglycerides as Stress Agents in Vitamin K Deficiency

Abstract

THE feeding of triglycerides containing fatty acids of medium chain length (MCT) creates a stress on vitamin E (Fisher and Kaunitz, 1965; Budowski et al., 1969). Continuing studies in this laboratory have indicated that the replacement of dietary long-chain triglycerides by MCT reduces the hypercholesterolemia of cholesterol-fed chickens (Fisher and Griminger, 1970). It was of interest to see whether one might use dietary MCT to obtain a more severe deficiency of another fat-soluble nutrient, vitamin K. To this end, the degree of vitamin K-deficiency in chickens receiving vitamin K-deficient diets containing MCT, corn oil, or no supplementary fats was compared, and the effect of supplementation of such diets with graded levels of different vitamin K sources investigated.PROCEDUREThe nitrogenous moiety in the vitamin K-deficient diet used in these tests was supplied (in percent) by isolated soy protein, 30, dl-methionine, 0.4, and glycine, 0.5. In addition, the diet contained reagent-grade…