title: A randomized trial of the effect of vitamin E on plasma prostacyclin (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) levels in healthy adults.
abstract: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled double blind trial of the effect of vitamin E (800 IU/day) on plasma prostacyclin levels. After drawing baseline blood samples, 30 healthy adults were randomly assigned to vitamin E or placebo. After eight weeks, we again collected blood and assayed the plasma for 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, the principal stable degradation product of prostacyclin. Mean levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in those patients who received placebo was essentially unchanged, 27 pg/ml at baseline and 29 pg/ml at 8 weeks. The mean level of those patients on vitamin E declined dramatically, from 29 to 13 pg/ml. The mean net difference due to vitamin E, -18 pg/ml (95% confidence limits from -32 to -3), was statistically significant, p = .02. It is not clear whether this effect is restricted to prostacyclin or if vitamin E exerts a similar tendency on other arachidonic acid derived products.
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol