Efficacy of water-soluble vitamin E in the treatment of vitamin E malabsorption in short-bowel syndrome.
A water-soluble form of vitamin E, tocopheryl succinate polyethylene glycol 1000 (TPGS), was used as an oral vitamin E supplement in a 71-y-old patient with severe fat malabsorption and vitamin E deficiency secondary to short-bowel syndrome. An absorption test with deuterium-labeled TPGS demonstrated that TPGS was absorbed and the released alpha-tocopherol was transported normally in lipoproteins. The disappearance portion of the deuterated alpha-tocopherol curves were parallel to those in control subjects, suggesting normal metabolic turnover of alpha-tocopherol. Long-term (3 y) supplementation with orally administered TPGS (10,360 mg or 4000 IU/d) maintained normal plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations, raised adipose tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations, and prevented further progression of the neurological abnormalities resulting from vitamin E deficiency. Thus, TPGS can be an effective vitamin E supplement in short-bowel syndrome despite severe fat malabsorption.
Traber
M G
MG
GI-Nutrition Service Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY.
Schiano
T D
TD
Steephen
A C
AC
Kayden
H J
HJ
Shike
M
M
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012995:Solubility; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014810:Vitamin E; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C014225:tocophersolan