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Vitamin E concentrations in human blood plasma and platelets
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|June 1, 1983
Summary
Platelet vitamin E (tocopherol) levels may be a better indicator of nutritional status than plasma levels, as they do not directly correlate with blood lipid concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Human Nutrition
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a crucial lipid-soluble antioxidant.
- Plasma tocopherol levels are often used to assess vitamin E status.
- Lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipids) can influence plasma tocopherol concentrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma and platelet vitamin E (tocopherol) concentrations.
- To determine if plasma lipid levels affect tocopherol concentrations in plasma and platelets.
- To evaluate the utility of platelet tocopherol as a biomarker for vitamin E nutritional status.
Main Methods:
- Quantified alpha and gamma tocopherol in plasma and platelets of 49 healthy adult males (age 24-91).
- Measured plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, and total lipids.
- Analyzed correlations between tocopherol levels and lipid parameters in plasma and platelets.
Main Results:
- Alpha and gamma tocopherols constituted the majority of vitamin E in both plasma and platelets.
- Plasma tocopherol concentrations showed significant positive correlations with plasma lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipids).
- Platelet tocopherol concentrations did not significantly correlate with plasma lipid levels.
Conclusions:
- Platelet vitamin E concentrations are independent of plasma lipid variations.
- Platelet tocopherol levels may offer a more reliable assessment of vitamin E nutritional status compared to plasma levels.
- Further research is warranted to validate platelet tocopherol as a superior biomarker.