Serum vitamin E in chronic myeloid leukaemia.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Experimental evidence suggests that free radicals can participate in tumour promotion and malignant conversion and free radical scavengers like alphatocopherol act as first line of defense against peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The present study was planned to estimate serum vitamin E levels in patients of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). METHODS: Serum vitamin E levels were estimated in 25 CML patients before and after the treatment. Twenty five age and sex matched healthy individuals served as control. RESULTS: Mean serum vitamin E levels were significantly decreased in CML patients before starting the treatment as compared to control. Also, vitamin E levels increased significantly after the treatment, but, remained lower than the control. CONCLUSION: Vitamin E levels were lower in CML patients as compared to control and the levels increased significantly after treatment in these patients. This could be due to decrease in oxidative stress due to decrease in tumour load.