title: Vitamin E deficiency and impaired cellular immunity related to intestinal fat malabsorption.
abstract: This report describes a patient in whom a severe vitamin E deficiency developed secondary to an intestinal malabsorptive disorder. In vivo and in vitro impairment of T-cell function, as well as a polyneuropathy, were observed in conjunction with this vitamin deficiency. Repletion of the vitamin deficiency was associated with marked improvement in the T-cell functions and modest improvement in the neuropathy. Observations in this patient suggest that severe vitamin E deficiency in humans may impair T-cell activity and that correction of the deficient state may reverse these T-cell abnormalities. Further studies will need to be performed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adult Gastroenterology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Kowdley
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Meydani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cornwall
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Grand
mesh_terms: D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D005223:Fats