THE ABSORPTION AND EXCRETION OF TOCOPHEROL IN LAENNEC'S CIRRHOSIS 1

Abstract

Balance studies, based on chem. analyses of the excreta, and studies of the plasma level and tolerance tests before and after saturation of the tissues with tocopherol indicated that cirrhotics, in contrast to normals, excreted a smaller fraction of ingested tocopherol, and had a sustained rise in plasma tocopherol concn. and exhibited a normal tolerance curve following tissue saturation. It was concluded that in cirrhosis there is no impairment of tocopherol absorption; low plasma levels reflect low tissue stores and are probably the result of an inadequate dietary intake of tocopherol; and flat tolerance curves may be the result of rapid diversion of absorbed tocopherol to relatively unsatureated tisues.