Biochemical vitamin E deficiency in chronic pancreatitis.
In order to study the frequency of biochemical vitamin E deficiency in chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis, we measured plasma vitamin E and total blood lipids in 44 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 83 control subjects (44 normal controls; 39 Crohn's disease controls). Mean plasma vitamin E and mean ratio vitamin E/total blood lipids, a more sensitive indicator of vitamin E status, were significantly lower in chronic pancreatitis when compared with either control group. A low vitamin E/total lipids ratio was found in 75% of patients with pancreatitis. Within the chronic pancreatitis group, mean plasma vitamin E and the ratio vitamin E to total lipids were significantly lower in those with steatorrhoea (23 patients--pancreatic steatorrhoea subgroup) than in those without (21 patients--pancreatic non-steatorrhoea subgroup). 91% of the pancreatic steatorrhoea subgroup had a low vitamin E/total lipids ratio. However, patients without pancreatic steatorrhoea also had significantly lower levels of plasma vitamin E and the ratio vitamin E/total lipids when compared to controls. We conclude that biochemical vitamin E deficiency is common in chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis, particularly in patients with steatorrhoea, and that factors other than fat malabsorption may be responsible for vitamin E deficiency in pancreatic non-steatorrhoea.
Gastrointestinal Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
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I
Kalvaria
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Labadarios
G S
GS
Shephard
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Visser
I N
IN
Marks
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*
D014810:Vitamin E; D000431:Ethanol