Vitamin E and lipoprotein levels in the sera of pregnant women.

Abstract

The serum levels of vitamin E, cholesterol and lipoproteins, .alpha.1-lipoproteins and .beta.-lipoproteins in pregnant women were investigated. Serum vitamin E, cholesterol and the lipoproteins apparently had a tendency to increase throughout gestation. The mean serum .alpha.1-lipoprotein concentration was higher in pregnant women than in healthy control women. The ratios of the vitamin E concentration to the sum of .alpha.1-lipoproteins and .beta.-lipoproteins concentration in sera was constant. Serum vitamin E was correlated closely to the lipoprotein content (r [correlation coefficient] = 0.814, P < 0.001), except in a few subjects with abnormally high vitamin E levels.