title: Vitamin E supplementation increases polyunsaturated fatty acids of RBC membrane in HCV-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on the fatty acid composition of red blood cell membrane phospholipids and on the clinical observations in patients with hepatitis C virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients and control subjects were administered 500 mg/d of d-alpha-tocopherol for 12 wk. The alpha-tocopherol and fatty acid composition of phospholipids in red blood cells were analyzed before, at 4, 8, and 12 wk, and after 4 wk of washout of vitamin E administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alpha-tocopherol concentration in red blood cells increased 2.37-fold of the basal level during vitamin E supplementation. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels increased in five of eight patients with vitamin E supplementation. The arachidonic acid level, docosahexaenoic acid level, and ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid in red blood cell membrane phospholipids, which were significantly lower in the patients than in the control subjects, were elevated at 8 and 12 wk after vitamin E supplementation. The improvement in fatty acid composition was observed particularly in the patients who responded to the vitamin E therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin E therapy for the prevention of disease progression in patients with hepatitis C virus may be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science, Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, Soja, Japan. yota@fhw.oka-pu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Takayo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Gouichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niiyama
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawanaka
authors.forename: Gotaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Misako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okita
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol