Vitamin E supplementation reduces oxidative stress in beta thalassaemia intermedia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of vitamin E treatment in oxidative stress of red and white cells of beta-thalassaemia intermedia patients.


METHODS
Nine patients undergoing occasional transfusions (5 females/4 males), median age 39 years (range 15-74), were recruited for oral daily administration of 400 IU vitamin E for 3 months. Twenty-seven milliliters of peripheral blood was obtained before and after 3 months of treatment, and 3 months after treatment completion. In the case of transfused patients (n = 4), blood was obtained at least 30 days after transfusion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry; red blood cell (RBC) reduced glutathione (GSH) was measured by dinitrothiocyanobenzene reduction, serum malondialdehyde was measured in terms of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and alpha-haemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) mRNA expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction of reticulocyte RNA extracts.


RESULTS
beta-Thalassaemia patients presented basal levels of RBC ROS, GSH and serum TBARS statistically different compared with healthy controls. However, after vitamin E administration, patients presented a significant reduction in erythrocyte RBC ROS and serum TBARS levels. In parallel, red cell GSH was significantly increased after treatment. Peripheral mononuclear cells and T lymphocytes also demonstrated a reduction in ROS production. Therefore, after treatment, no significant differences were detected comparing patients and normal controls. Three months after treatment completion, all measurements showed a tendency of returning to basal values. A significant reduction in reticulocyte number was observed after vitamin E treatment. Vitamin E treatment did not modify levels of haemoglobin or AHSP mRNA expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Although vitamin E is not capable of reducing anaemia in these patients, it could be useful for reducing oxidative damage in other target organs of beta-thalassaemic patients. Finally, this is the first study to analyse the effects of vitamin E on ROS production in red and white blood cells and AHSP mRNA expression.
Pfeifer
W P
WP
Hemocentro and Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
Degasperi
G R
GR
Almeida
M T
MT
Vercesi
A E
AE
Costa
F F
FF
Saad
S T O
ST
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014810:Vitamin E