Evaluation of high-dose vitamin E as a radioprotective agent

Sixty male Spraque Dawley rats were randomly divided into six equal groups and given 0, 1500 rads (15 Gy), and 2000 rads (20 GY) whole thoracic irradiation from a cobalt-60 source via an anterior portal. Thirty animals received a 2.5% vitamin E diet for two weeks prior to irradiation and, in addition, each was given a single intraperitoneal injection of water-soluble alpha T (150 mg) four hours prior to irradiation. Serum vitamin E levels were 646 +/- 76 microgram/ml for vitamin E groups and 6.0 +/- 2.4 microgram/ml for controls. Comparison of the 180-day survival curves and histologic studies performed on the lungs and hearts of the surviving animals showed no statistically significant differences between the vitamin E and control group.