Further observations on the constituents of the unsaponifiable fraction of wheat germ oil with particular reference to vitamin E.

1. The larvae of the moths belonging to the genus Ephestia, E. kuehniella, E. elutella and E. cautella grow well on artificial diets which also contain wheat-germ oil. In the absence of wheat-germ oil growth is slow, the mortality high and the moths fail to emerge from the pupae. 2. With suboptimal quantities of wheat-germ oil moths emerge with the wings lacking in scales. 3. The saponifiable fraction of wheat-germ oil is necessary for emergence and good scales, and the unsaponifiable fraction for good growth. 4. The active substance in the saponifiable fraction is linoleic acid. Linolenic acid has approximately the same effect as linoleic acid. Oleic acid has no effect. 5. The active substance in the unsaponifiable fraction is vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and possibly other antioxidants. One of the functions of vitamin E is that of an antioxidant which stabilizes linoleic acid. In this respect vitamin E can be replaced by ethyl and propyl gallates, or by ascorbic acid. 6. Apart from this stabilizing effect on linoleic acid, the unsaponifiable fraction of wheat-germ oil, or vitamin E, have also an independent growth effect. There are also indications that linoleic acid has a growth effect. 7. It is shown that the effect of a number of vegetable and animal fats on scales and emergence is strictly parallel to their linoleic acid content. 8. With cod-liver oil, halibut-liver oil, lard and butter growth is fast, while the effect on scales and emergence is small or nil. The growth effect of codliver oil is mainly or partly due to its content of docosahexenoic and probably other highly unsaturated fatty acids. 9. Large quantities of cereal starches in the diet have a favourable effect on scales and emergence which is attributed to the presence, in starch, of impurities of linoleic acid. No such effect has been encountered with potato starch which is free of linoleic acid. 10. The similarities and dissimilarities in the linoleic acid deficiency of the rat and Ephestia have been discussed. 11. The symptoms of the linoleic acid deficiency of Ephestia are similar, if not perhaps identical, with those of a genetical condition known as Glasflügeligkeit

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A study of the unsaponifiable fraction of wheat germ oil with special reference to vitamin E

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj0290456 ◽

1935 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 456-471 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Jack Cecil Drummond ◽

Eleanor Singer ◽

Roy James Macwalter

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Special Reference ◽

Wheat Germ ◽

Unsaponifiable Fraction ◽

Wheat Germ Oil

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Fish oil plus wheat germ oil have no prominent effect on homocysteine levels and nutritional indices in hemodialysis patients

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000604 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Hadeer Zakaria ◽

Tarek M. Mostafa ◽

Gamal A. El-Azab ◽

Nagy AH Sayed-Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Fish Oil ◽

Wheat Germ ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Nutritional Indices ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Wheat Germ Oil ◽

Serum Homocysteine

Abstract. Background: Elevated homocysteine levels and malnutrition are frequently detected in hemodialysis patients and are believed to exacerbate cardiovascular comorbidities. Omega-3 fatty acids have been postulated to lower homocysteine levels by up-regulating metabolic enzymes and improving substrate availability for homocysteine degradation. Additionally, it has been suggested that prevention of folate depletion by vitamin E consumption decreases homocysteine levels. However, data on the effect of omega-3 fatty acids and/or vitamin E on homocysteine levels and nutritional status have been inconclusive. Therefore, this study was planned to examine the effect of combined supplementation of fish oil, as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, with wheat germ oil, as a source of vitamin E, on homocysteine and nutritional indices in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Forty-six hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to two equally-sized groups; a supplemented group who received 3000 mg/day of fish oil [1053 mg omega-3 fatty acids] plus 300 mg/day of wheat germ oil [0.765 mg vitamin E], and a matched placebo group who received placebo capsules for 4 months. Serum homocysteine and different nutritional indices were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Twenty patients in each group completed the study. At the end of the study, there were no significant changes in homocysteine levels and in the nutritional indices neither in the supplemented nor in the placebo-control groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Fish oil and wheat germ oil combination did not produce significant effects on serum homocysteine levels and nutritional indices of hemodialysis patients.

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WHEAT GERM OIL AND REPRODUCTION A REVIEW

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.056s005 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 56 (2_Suppla) ◽

pp. S5-S15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

W. Richard Dukelow

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Wheat Germ ◽

Research Data ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Physiological Effects ◽

Wheat Germ Oil ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

The Past ◽

Reproductive Processes

ABSTRACT Wheat germ oil is a biochemical complex containing many substances. Many of these are unidentified at the present time. In the past, confusion has existed due to the assumed equivalence of wheat germ oil and vitamin E and this has resulted, in several instances, of misinterpretation of research data. With recent discoveries of beneficial effects of wheat germ oil on reproductive processes in humans, cattle, sheep and laboratory animals, as well as the physiological effects on oxygen uptake and endurance of both wheat germ oil and octacosanol, it appears that a reevaluation of these natural products would be in order.

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