[Erythrocyte lipid peroxidation as a diagnostic test in supplying pigs, lambs and chickens with vitamin E]

Experiments with pigs, lambs, sheep, and birds, carried out under various conditions of feeding (with or without supplement or treatment with vitamin E) revealed that the study of the peroxide resistance of erythrocyte lipids could render useful information on the supply of animals with vitamin E. The study of peroxide resistance was shown to be much more accessible than the available chemical methods, and had better reproducibility. This new approach took good consideration of the biologic activity of vitamin E, and was fairly suitable to be employed as a screening diagnostic method. The interpretation of results should take into account the occasional peroxidizing effect produced by heavy metals. With sheep the normal values of erythrocyte lipid peroxidation were 40.3 +/- 1.86; with cattle they were 60.0 +/- 3.2; with pigs--63.7 +/- 3.56; with young birds--64.6 +/- 2.35; and with hen layers--72.8 +/- 4.39.