Dietary vitamin E supplementation does not inhibit Candida albicans intestinal translocation in rats

Abstract

Candida albicans translocation was determined in rats receiving a normal or vitamin E-supplemented and deficient diet submitted to mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion (MIR). The antioxidant effect of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation was also assessed. The animals were divided into six groups submitted to different diets for 30 d. Groups N, NI, NC and NIC were submitted to a normal diet and used as controls, and groups VITE and DEFE received a vitamin E-supplemented and vitamin E-deficient diet, respectively. Groups NIC, VITE and DEFE were submitted to MIR, inoculated with Candida albicans and sacrificed 24 h after the surgical procedure. The antioxidant effect of vitamin E was determined in the liver and gut mucosa using the TBARS method. Candida albicans translocation was assessed in lymph node, liver and kidney specimens: The results showed that lipid peroxidation was lower (p < 0.05) in the vitamin E-supplemented group. However, vitamin E supplementation did not protect the rats against Candida albicans translocation (the translocation in the Group VITE was 100% for lymph nodes).