Vitamin E--its significance in mouse ageing

A small colony of C3H/He and LAF1 mice was set up with 50% of all stock being given a dietary supplement of 0.25% w/w vitamin E to study the range of ageing variables over which anti-oxidant administration has an effect. An increase in mean but not maximum lifespan with vitamin E was attributable to fewer fatalities early in life. This may have been due to low anti-oxidant levels in the controls. Lower fatal tumour incidence in both strains and a decrease in collagen content of LAF mice were noted. Lipofuscin levels in heart tissue were, as expected, reduced but the significance of lipid peroxidation to ageing of the organism is questioned.