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. 2024 Feb 17;14(2):266.
doi: 10.3390/life14020266.

Distribution and Utilization of Vitamin E in Different Organs of Wild Bats from Different Food Groups

Diego Antonio Mena Canata  1   2 , Mara Silveira Benfato  1   2 , Francielly Dias Pereira  1   2 , María João Ramos Pereira  3 , Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto  4
Affiliations

Distribution and Utilization of Vitamin E in Different Organs of Wild Bats from Different Food Groups

Diego Antonio Mena Canata et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

In this work, we examined the levels of vitamin E in the heart, liver, and kidneys of four species of adult male bats with distinct feeding habits. Our results indicate consistent vitamin E levels in the heart across all four bat species, suggesting the presence of regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, the liver displayed notably higher vitamin E levels in nectarivorous and frugivorous bats, while hematophagous bats exhibited lower levels, indicating a link between dietary intake and liver vitamin E levels. Furthermore, correlation analysis provided additional insights into the relationships between vitamin E and key antioxidant parameters in the livers of bats. On the other hand, no correlation was observed between vitamin E and key antioxidant parameters in the heart. Intriguingly, vitamin E was not detected in the kidneys, likely due to physiological factors and the prioritization of vitamin E mobilization in the heart, where it serves critical physiological functions. This unexpected absence of vitamin E in bat kidneys highlights the unique metabolic demands and prioritization of vitamin mobilization in wild animals like bats, compared to conventional animal models. These findings provide insight into the intricate distribution and utilization of vitamin E in bats, emphasizing the influence of dietary intake and metabolic adaptations on vitamin E levels in different organs.

Keywords: alfa tocopherol; frugivorous; insectivorous; nectarivorous; vampire bat; vitamins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors that there is no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Vitamin E levels measured in the heart and liver of the four adult male bat species. Data are presented as the median (interquartile range). Variations in letters signify statistical differences between different species. While similar letters imply no statistical differences (p > 0.05), distinct letters show significant differences among species (p < 0.05).
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