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Influence of plasma lipids and adiposity on red blood cell tocopherol level
Insights
Red blood cell (RBC) tocopherol levels in children correlate with plasma lipids. Obesity, particularly over 30% excess weight, significantly lowers RBC tocopherol, suggesting adiposity impacts vitamin E status.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hematology
Background:
- Red blood cell (RBC) tocopherol levels reflect vitamin E status.
- Plasma lipids play a role in nutrient transport and distribution.
- Adiposity can influence metabolic processes and nutrient bioavailability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma lipids and RBC tocopherol levels in children.
- To examine the impact of adiposity on RBC tocopherol concentrations in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Correlation analysis between RBC tocopherol and plasma tocopherol, adjusted for plasma total lipids.
- Comparison of RBC tocopherol levels in nonobese, moderately obese, and severely obese children.
- Assessment of plasma tocopherol and plasma total lipid levels across different obesity groups.
Main Results:
- RBC tocopherol levels showed a stronger correlation with plasma tocopherol when adjusted for plasma total lipids (r=0.69) compared to unadjusted levels (r=0.39).
- Children with 30% or more excess weight exhibited significantly lower RBC tocopherol levels than control or less obese children.
- Plasma tocopherol levels were not significantly different across obesity groups, nor were plasma total lipid levels.
Conclusions:
- RBC tocopherol levels in children are primarily influenced by the concentration of tocopherol within plasma lipids.
- Severe obesity (≥30% excess weight) is associated with reduced RBC tocopherol levels, independent of plasma lipid concentrations.
- Adiposity itself appears to be a contributing factor to decreased RBC tocopherol in obese children.
Abstract:
The influence of plasma lipids and the degree of adiposity on red blood cell (RBC) tocopherol levels was investigated in children. In the first study of nonobese children with a wide range of plasma lipid values, the correlation coefficient between RBC tocopherol levels and plasma tocopherol levels was 0.39 (P less than 0.001, n = 195) but when RBC tocopherol was compared with plasma tocopherol based on plasma total lipids, the coefficient increased to 0.69. From this finding it is assumed that RBC tocopherol levels are governed by the tocopherol concentration in plasma lipids. In the second study of obese children, RBC tocopherol levels decreased in the children with 30% or more excess weight, as compared with those of control children and those with less than 30% obesity, while plasma tocopherol levels were unrelated to obesity grades. Because of no significant difference in plasma total lipid levels among these three groups of children, decreased RBC tocopherol in children with 30% or more obesity is probably attributable to their adiposity.