USE As an antioxidant for fats and oils or in packaging material for fat-containing foods. Its activity is enhanced in combination with other antioxidants and synergists. Biological Data Biochemical aspects BHT is readily absorbed. Some deposition in adipose tissue bee been described following high dosage in the rat, and this may cause increased stability of the extracted perineal fat. The metabolism of BHT is complicated by the presence of the butyl groups on each side of the hydroxyl.
Preliminary modification is necessary before conjugation can occur.
The former yields glucuronide conjugates, while the latter becomes conjugated with glucuronic acid or glycine. Some of the oxidized material is also excreted unconjugated. 4 Rats were given doses of 100 g of BHT labelled with 3 H intraperitoneally and the urinary output of radioactivity was measured for 4 consecutive days. The concentration of BHT in the liver never rose above 5 ppm in males or 1.5 ppm in females. In the body fat the level fluctuated round 30 ppm in males and 45 ppm in females.