Relative Activity of the Tocopherols in Curing Muscular Dystrophy in Rabbits

Abstract

The relative activity of natural α-, β-, and γ-tocopherols in the cure of creatinuria associated with muscular dystrophy in rabbits has been found to be 100, 30, and 20, respectively. The minimum curative dose of natural (d) α-tocopherol was 1.1 mg per kilo of body weight per day. For synthetic (dl) α-tocopherol the minimum curative dose was 1.4 mg per kilo per day. The anti-dystrophy potency of synthetic dl,γ-tocopherol was about 30% that of natural d,γ-tocopherol. d,α-Tocopheryl phosphate injected intramuscularly into dystrophic rabbits brings about a slower but longer-lasting cure. The possible significance of this is discussed. Tocopherol-free corn and soybean oils are as effective as cod-liver oil in accelerating the onset of nutritional muscular dystrophy.