AbstractEffects of different dietary lipids and excess vitamin E on plasma and hepatic concentrations ofβ‐carotene were evaluated in rats fed diets containing a large excess (0.2%) ofβ‐carotene. Male weanling Wistar Kyoto rats were fedβ‐carotene‐supplemented diets containing various dietary lipids as follows: Group I, a saturated fat (coconut oil); Group II, a monounsaturated fat (olive oil); Group III, a polyunsaturated fat rich inω‐6 fatty acids (safflower oil); Group IV, same as Group III plus vitamin E; and Group V, a polyunsaturated fat rich inω‐3 fatty acids (menhaden oil). All diets contained 2% saf flower oil to provide sufficient amounts of linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid). Rats were killed after six weeks of feeding the various diets, and the concentrations of Q‐carotene and vitamin A were determined in plasma and liver. Plasma vitamin A levels were not altered by any of the dietary lipids or by an excess of vitamin E. The concentrations ofβ‐carotene in plasma were the lowest in rats fed the diet containing menhaden oil. The feeding of the diet containing an excess of vitamin E also resulted in a significant decrease in plasmaβ‐carotene concentration. Similarly, the hepaticβ‐carotene concentration was also reduced to about one‐half in rats fed the diet containing an excess of vitamin E. Liverβ‐carotene concentration was higher in Groups II and III than in the other three dietary groups. Hepatic vitamin A concentrations were also affected by the type of dietary fat. The highest levels were observed in rats fed the coconut oil diet; the lowest level of vitamin A was in rats fed menhaden oil (Group V). The results of this study suggest that the type of dietary fat and an excess of vitamin E can have a significant effect on 0‐carotene and vitamin A stores in liver and onβ‐carotene content of plasma.