Plasma levels of vitamin E in Parkinson's disease.
Oxidative stress has been implicated as a major contributor to selective neuronal death in Parkinson's disease (PD). Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may protect the brain from free radical-induced oxidative damage. It is, therefore, reasonable to hypothesize that low levels of vitamin E concentrations may increase the risk of developing PD. To elucidate the possible role of vitamin E in the pathogenesis of PD, we assessed the plasma levels of vitamin E, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), in 54 patients with PD. Vitamin E concentrations were also assessed in 93 age and sex matched normal individuals. The mean plasma levels of vitamin E did not differ significantly between these two groups (22.5+/-8.15 &mgr;mol/l for PD patients and 21.0+/-7.9 &mgr;mol/l for controls). The results of our study suggest that plasma vitamin E concentrations do not play a major role in the pathogenesis of PD.
Nicoletti
G
G
Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Contrada Burga, I-87050 Piano Lago di Mangone, Cosenza, Italy
Crescibene
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L
Scornaienchi
M
M
Bastone
L
L
Bagalà
A
A
Napoli
I D.
ID
Caracciolo
M
M
Quattrone
A
A