We have previously reported that normal Wistar rats fed during 105 days with standard laboratory chow, supplemented with 0.5g of brominated vegetable oil (olive, sunflower) per 100 g of diet showed a significant increase of triglyceride and cholesterol content in both heart and liver. This was accompanied by a significant decrease of plasma lipid levels. Fluctuations in plasma triglyceride concentrations may be a result of either variations in the liver secretion rate of very low density lipoprotein-triglyceride (VLDL-TG), or changes in their removal rate by extrahepatic tissues or both. In the present work we have studied the contribution of both VLDL-TG secretion, and removal rates of plasma TG in the decrease of plasma TG levels, in rats fed during 105 days with a standard laboratory chow supplemented with 0.5 g per 100 g of brominated vegetable oil. VLDL-TG secretion was estimated by measuring the accumulation of plasma TG following the injection of TRITON WR 1339 and the removal rate of plasma TG by assaying plasma post-heparin lipolytic total (PHLA) and hepatic (H-TGL) lipase activities. In addition, the major lipid composition of plasma lipoprotein fractions were measured. Results were compared to those of a control group fed a laboratory chow diet during the same period of time. Our results show a decrease in both VLDL-TG secretion and plasma TG pool size accompanied by normal PHLA and H-TGL activities in animals fed the diet supplemented with brominated oils. However, the proportion of the major lipid components of the plasma lipoproteins fractions were unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)