Oral supplements of vitamin E improve measures of oxidative stress in plasma and reduce oxidative damage to LDL and erythrocytes in beta-thalassemia intermedia patients.
Fifteen beta-thalassemia intermedia patients, not requiring chronic transfusional therapy, were monitored in order to check their antioxidant status, and the lipid oxidation products in plasma, LDL, and erythrocytes before and during a 9-month oral treatment with 600 mg/day vitamin E. The low level of vitamin E, and high level of malondialdehyde in plasma clearly tended to normalize after three months (P < .001), and were quite similar to control after six months. The abnormally low level of vitamin E in LDL and the four times higher than control basal level of conjugated dienes (LDL-CD), were not modified after three months of treatment. Significant changes of LDL-VE (P < .05) and of the basal LDL-CD (P < .001) were evident after six months. LDL-VE was within the normal range after nine months, whereas LDL-CD still appeared twice as higher than control. Plasma vitamin A, ascorbate, beta-carotene, and lycopene increased markedly at the end of the trial (P < .005). The level of vitamin E in red blood cells was normalized after six months of supplementation. A decrease of the baseline value of conjugated dienes was observed after nine months, although it remained 1.4-fold higher than control. The RBC count and hematocrit appeared higher at the end of the trial (P < .05 and P < .001, respectively). The hemoglobin value did not show variations. A shift to normal of the resistance of erythrocytes to osmotic lysis was observed. Our findings provide evidence that an oral treatment with vitamin E improves the antioxidant/oxidant balance in plasma, LDL particles, and red blood cells, and counteracts lipid peroxidation processes in beta-thalassemia intermedia patients.
Tesoriere
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Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche, Università di Palermo, Palermo. Italy.
D'Arpa
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Butera
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Allegra
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Renda
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Maggio
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Bongiorno
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Livrea
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MA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E