Vitamin E, lipid profile, and peroxidation in hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Hypertriglyceridemia, lipid peroxidation, and abnormalities of the plasma fatty acid (PUFA) profile may be important risk factors for the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis (HD) patients.


METHODS
We investigated how these factors are affected by vitamin E supplementation carried out by oral administration (clinical study 1) and dialysis with vitamin E-modified dialyzers (clinical study 2).


RESULTS
In the HD patients, conditions of relative vitamin E deficiency were observed [lowered vitamin E/triglyceride (TG) ratio] in the presence of high levels of thiobarbituric acid reactants (TBARs) and decreased levels of the polyunsaturated fraction of PUFAs paired with an increased amount of monounsaturated ones (MUFA). In both studies, vitamin E supplementation significantly increased the levels of vitamin E in the plasma without affecting TG levels and provided a partial correction of TBAR levels. Of note was the relative increase in the PUFA fraction, which gave solid proof of an anti(per)oxidant effect of vitamin E supplementation in HD patients. Vitamin E supplementation was also observed to increase plasma levels of reduced glutathione and NOx (NO2 + NO3).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that vitamin E supplementation may be an effective accessory therapy to combat oxidative stress-lowering lipid peroxidation in HD patients.
Galli
F
F
G. Fornaini Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy. galli@uniurb.it
Varga
Z
Z
Balla
J
J
Ferraro
B
B
Canestrari
F
F
Floridi
A
A
Kakuk
G
G
Buoncristiani
U
U
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014810:Vitamin E