Vitamin E as an antioxidant agent in CAPD patients

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Nephrology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Patients with chronic renal failure undergoing renal replacement therapy often experience accelerated atherosclerosis.
• Oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and reduced antioxidant defenses are implicated in this process.
• Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients may benefit from interventions targeting oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of oral vitamin E (400 mg/day) on antioxidant defense parameters in CAPD patients.
• To assess changes in erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation markers, and vitamin levels.

Main Methods:

• A six-week study involving fourteen CAPD patients divided into two six-week periods: one with vitamin E supplementation and one without.
• Measurements included serum vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT).
• Patients received varying doses of pyridoxine and some received erythropoietin (EPO).

Main Results:

• Six-week vitamin E treatment significantly increased serum vitamin E levels (33.6 to 49.3 micromol/L).
• Vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (2.62 to 2.36 micromol/L), a marker of lipid peroxidation.
• Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPX, CAT) remained unchanged and were generally within or below normal ranges.

Conclusions:

• Orally administered vitamin E (400 mg/day) acts as a significant antioxidant agent in CAPD patients.
• Vitamin E supplementation effectively reduces oxidative stress markers like MDA in this patient population.
• Further research may be needed to explore the impact on erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes.