Supplementation of rats with a lutein mixture preserved with vitamin E reduces tissue phylloquinone and menaquinone-4

The modulation of tissue concentrations of vitamin K by a lutein supplement preserved with natural vitamin E was studied in Fischer 344 rats. Vitamin K is necessary for blood coagulation and may be essential for tissue and bone health. Weanling male rats were fed the AIN-93G diet (control) or modified AIN-93G diets containing 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 4.8 g supplement/100 g diet for 8 weeks. The supplement contained 5% lutein, 0.22% zeaxanthin and 2.2% natural vitamin E as a preservative. Concentrations of trans-phylloquinone in the plasma (nmol/mmol triglycerides) and heart were significantly reduced (P less than or equal to 0.05) in rats fed the supplement. The reductions in trans-phylloquinone in the heart ranged from similar to 20 to 60% of the control. Concentrations of phylloquinone in the liver were significantly lower in the rats fed the supplement at levels greater than or equal to 1.2 g/100 g diet than in the control rats. Ratios Of cis/trans phylloquinone in liver and heart increased and concentrations of menaquinone-4 in heart decreased as the dietary level of the lutein supplement increased, The results suggest that the lutein supplement affected the absorption, tissue uptake and/or turnover rate of vitamin K, The presence Of-other components in the supplement confounded the interpretation of the biological effects of lutein alone on vitamin K metabolism.