Vitamin E and relationships among tocopherols in human plasma, platelets, lymphocytes, and red blood cells

Abstract

Plasma, RBC, platelets, and lymphocytes from human subjects on graded intakes of vitamin E were analyzed for tocopherols to determine which humoral compartment most closely followed changes in the dietary intake. Relative merits of the various blood elements to reflect changes in vitamin E intake were calculated by the sensitivity concept of Mandel and Stiehler (ie, rate of change of tocopherol levels with dose divided by the standard deviation). Sensitivities of alpha-tocopherol levels of the various blood components to vitamin E intake decreased in the order platelets greater than RBC greater than plasma lipids greater than plasma greater than lymphocytes. Changes in tocopherol levels in platelets most closely followed changing dietary intakes of vitamin E when compared with data from RBC, lymphocytes, and plasma. Furthermore, for studying the effects of diets on vitamin E status, tocopherol levels of platelets appear to be a better measure than tocopherol levels of either RBC, lymphocytes, or plasma lipids.

Factors influencing blood concentration of retinol, α-tocopherol, vitamin C, and β-carotene in the French participants of the SU.VI.MAX trial

“…Serum vitamins are not considered as good markers of deficiency, and this is particularly true for retinol (Tanumihardjo, 2004), vitamin E (Lehmann, 1988), and C (Benzie, 1999). Indeed, retinol deficiency should be diagnosed by MRDR or RDR tests, a-tocopherol in erythrocyte is a better marker of deficiency, and vitamin C concentration in leukocytes is also more reliable to assess tissue concentrations than simple serum concentrations (Sauberlich, 1975(Sauberlich, , 1999.…”

Plasma and erythrocyte α-tocopherol and plasma retinol concentrations in term infants fed formula enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

“…Some studies show that erythrocytes and platelets have closer relation to long-term dietetic changes than plasma (Haddad et al, 1985;Lehmann et al, 1988;Saito et al, 1992;Rodriguez-Palmero et al, 1997). In studies on rats, low doses of ®sh oil (with a large concentration of LCPUFA) enriched with a-tocopherol led to a marked increase a-tocopherol in erythrocytes (Garrido et al, 1989) and in heart (Chautan et al, 1990).…”

“…The majority of studies on the in¯uence of the diet of atocopherol levels in infants analyse only plasma a-tocopherol levels (Phelps & Dietz, 1981;Martõ Ânez et al, 1984;Gross & Gabriel, 1985;Ostrea et al, 1986;Hayes et al, 1992;Uauy et al, 1994;Decsi & Koletzko, 1995;Koletzko et al, 1995a), although some studies show a closer relation between erythrocyte and platelet a-tocopherol with a-tocopherol dietetic changes than for plasma values both in adults and in neonates studies (Mino, 1982;Haddad et al, 1985;Lehmann et al, 1988;Saito et al, 1992;Koletzko et al, 1995b;Rodriguez-Palmero et al, 1997a).…”

Comparison of a vitamin E-rich diet and supplemental vitamin E on measures of vitamin E status and lipoprotein profile

“…Our data con®rm the complexity of determinants of the bioavailability of vitamin E. It is conceivable that other nutrients or biologically active substances in food may in¯uence bioavailability, but it is also possible that substantial increases in the amounts of dietary vitamin E to levels which are only achievable by the use of supplements are essential for a substantial increase in plasma levels. Prior to the dietary intervention we found a strong correlation between plasma cholesterol and plasma alpha tocopherol, a ®nding demonstrated by several other groups (Horwitt et al, 1972;Lehmann et al, 1988;Vatassery et al, 1983). However, no correlation is apparent between dietary intake and plasma alpha tocopherol at baseline, especially when supplement users are eliminated from the overall group.…”