Levels of BHA and BHT in human and animal adipose tissue: Interspecies extrapolation

Abstract BHA fed to rats and monkeys at high levels for several months accumulated to only a low level (0.25 ppm) in adipose tissue. However, when fed to rats at the same levels, but in combination with BHT, increased levels of BHA were found in adipose tissue, indicating an interaction with BHT. On an equivalent dose basis, BHT accumulated to ten times the level of BHA. However, neither showed any progressive accumulation with time. Canadian human adipose tissue contained 0.01 and 0.12 ppm BHA and BHT, respectively. Consideration of these levels, the mean intake of BHA and/or BHT by Canadians, and the rat adipose tissue data, confirmed previous observations that accumulation of these antioxidants in the adipose tissue on a dose/body weight basis is greater in humans than in rats.