Tocopherol content of adipose tissue from vitamin E-deficient humans

The high performance liquid chromatographic isolation of tocopherol with fluorometric quantitation, which we have previously described, has been extended to the analysis of needle aspiration biopsies of adipose tissue. Results are expressed relative to triglyceride content (ng tocopherol per mg triglyceride). In normal subjects adipose tissue content was 262 +/- 33; this value was increased two- to three-fold in normal persons ingesting additional vitamin E. Abetalipoproteinaemic patients have very low adipose tissue tocopherol values--about 10-20% of normal subjects; with massive supplementation of vitamin E (grams per day) a number of such patients have achieved normal tissue tocopherol concentrations. Patients with cholestatic liver disease and low plasma content of tocopherol also had low adipose tissue values; these could be increased by parenteral administration of vitamin E. Neuromuscular improvement noted in response to treatment with supplementary vitamin E has not as yet been correlated to the adipose tissue increment of tocopherol. While extensive observations on the intestinal absorption of tocopherol in humans have been reported, the mode of transfer from plasma lipoproteins to tissues has been less studied. Our results from patients with lipoprotein lipase deficiency and other abnormalities of lipid metabolism suggest that considerable transfer occurs during the initial catabolism of the chylomicrons.