Vitamin E status in men and women aged 60-90 years

The vitamin E status in men and women aged 60-90 years (62 men and 124 women) was examined. Plasma free vitamin E was analysed according to a modified version of the Hansen and Warwich method--a fluorometric micromethod for serum tocopherol. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were quantified by the enzymatic methods on a Computer Directed Analyzer. Anthropometric data included the measurement of 13 skinfold thickness dimensions and Quetelet's index of obesity computed from weight (in g) and height (in cm2). The distribution of plasma free tocopherol level ranged from 10 mumol/1 to 69.9 mumol/1 for men and from 20 mumol/1 to 64.9 mumol/1 for women (median: 40-44.9 mumol/1 for both groups). Using the range of 12-46 mumol/1 free tocopherol of the plasma as the criterion, 78.5% of the subjects were classified as having the optimal vitamin E status. With the total free tocopherol levels above 49.9 mumol/1 of plasma, 21.5% of the subjects had an over average vitamin E status. It has also been found that there were correlations between the total free plasma tocopherol and plasma lipids (plasma triglycerides, plasma cholesterol, in men and women) and HDL-cholesterol in the male population.