title: A randomized trial of replacement antioxidant vitamin therapy for neutrophil locomotory dysfunction in blunt trauma.
abstract: Studies in patients with serious trauma indicate that the observed neutrophil (PMN) locomotory dysfunction is partly the result of auto-oxidation as shown by evidence of preactivation, diminished reducing capacity, and low serum and cellular ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol. To investigate whether replacement of the antioxidant vitamins ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol can improve the PMN locomotory defect, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, or placebo was administered to a total of 46 victims of blunt trauma. PMN locomotion was quantitated using a micropore filter assay. Locomotion data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis with a split plot design and data for days 2-6 after injury were compared. Compared with placebo, the antioxidants improved PMN locomotion. The mean differences in distance migrated (treated minus placebo) were ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol = 11.3 +/- 3.0 microns (one-tailed p = 0.001) (mean +/- SE); ascorbic acid = 4.7 +/- 3.4 microns (p = 0.19); and alpha-tocopherol = 3.3 +/- 2.9 microns (p = 0.27). Although both antioxidants given together produced the best results, a plot of the 95% confidence intervals indicates that ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, either given alone, were also better than placebo. We conclude that antioxidant replacement therapy significantly improves the PMN locomotory abnormality in blunt trauma.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Hartford Hospital, CT 06115.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Maderazo
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Woronick
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hickingbotham
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Bhagavan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D010100:Oxygen