Alpha tocopherol concentration in serum of critically ill patients.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-91619
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Alpha tocopherol is the biologically and chemically active form of vitamin E and is the most abundant lipid-soluble antioxidant in humans protecting the cell membranes. Serum concentration of the antioxidant alpha tocopherol was measured in critically ill patients in whom the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species could compromise antioxidant defence mechanisms.METHOD:
Alpha tocopherol concentration in serum was measured spectrofluorometrically in critically ill patients admitted in intensive care unit and age matched healthy adults, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) served as control.RESULTS:
Alpha tocopherol levels were significantly lower in critically ill patients (p < 0.001) as compared to healthy control subjects and those in two other disease groups (DM, CML) in which reactive oxygen species are reported to be increased. Elderly patients and patients who stayed longer than 8 days had lower plasma concentration of vitamin E.CONCLUSION:
These findings indicate that antioxidant defence could be considerably compromised in these very sick patients and vitamin E supplementation may be beneficial in increasing their antioxidant reserve.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Spectrophotometry
/
Vitamin E
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Case-Control Studies
/
Critical Illness
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Adult
/
Middle Aged
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Antioxidants
Type of study:
Observational study
Language:
English
Year:
1999
Type:
Article
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