Effects of Limited Tocopherol Intake in Man with Relationships to Erythrocyte Hemolysis and Lipid Oxidations

Abstract

The organization of a project designed to evaluate man’s requirement for vitamin E is described. This project is still in progress. The plasma levels of tocopherol have been studied in relationship to levels of vitamin E in the diet and compared with the extent of erythrocyte hemolysis by peroxide. A study has been made of variables which effect the hemolysis test. It is suggested that variables other than the concentration of α-tocopherol in the blood are involved in this phenomenon. The hemolysis of the erythrocyte by hydrogen peroxide has been related to oxidation of the lipoid structure of the red blood cell by comparing data obtained from oxidation of linolenic acid, phospholipids, and brain lipids with oxidations of erythrocyte lipids. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) has been suggested as a suitable reagent for evaluating the oxidation of biological material in studies of vitamin E deficiency. With this reagent, data have been obtained which have shown an increased reactivity with biological material from mammals depleted of vitamin E. Correlations between TBA reactivity and the extent of peroxide hemolysis in human erythrocytes have been observed.