Serum vitamin E levels in patients with chronic renal failure

27 patients with chronic renal failure, 21 patients on chronic intermittent dialysis treatment and 27 healthy controls were tested for serum level of vitamin E estimated spectrophotometrically. Both patient groups had significant higher mean values (12.1 +/- 1.2 and 7.2 +/- 0.8 micrograms/ml respectively) in comparison with normal controls 4.6 +/- 0.7 micrograms/ml). No correlation was found to serum creatinine, hematologic values, protein and lipoprotein concentration, nor to mode and duration of treatment regimes. Vitamin E was not extracted from blood throughout dialysis. Under normal conditions of conservative or dialysis treatment of chronic renal failure patients vitamin E seems not to be a factor concerning uremic symptoms and there is no need for supplementation.