Plasma Tocopherol Levels in Sprue.

Total Free Tocopherols in the Serum of Patients With Thyroid Disease 1

“…In the present series, serum levels of more than 1.2 mg. per cent rule out untreated Graves' disease, and a concentration of less than 1.7 mg. per cent is inconsistent with the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Since low serum tocopherol levels occur in humans with absorption defects (35,41), non-specific under-nutrition (36), and kwashiorkor (42), it is conceivable that low values observed in the thyrotoxic group relate to a deficit in absorption or diet. These are unlikely major factors in view of the isocaloric status of some patients, the lack of correlation between tocopherol level and weight, and the absence of steatorrhea and stigmata of other vitamin deficiencies.…”

“…It is likely that expansion of this series and application of discriminating tests of thyroid function would have yielded conclusions in keeping with those of the present report. The report of a high level in one hypothyroid child (34) (23,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40), as well as in relation to the internal controls. In the present series, serum levels of more than 1.2 mg. per cent rule out untreated Graves' disease, and a concentration of less than 1.7 mg. per cent is inconsistent with the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.…”

The possible role of dietary factors in the aetiology and pathogenesis of sprue, coeliac disease and idiopathic steatorrhoea

“…Blocking the conversion of folic acid into folinic acid by the administration of aminopterin interferes with intestinal absorption. It may also be significant that the blood tocopherol levels in sprue patients may be extremely low (Darby, Cherrington & Ruffin, 1946), suggesting interference with the oxidation-reduction situation in the body. It is apparent that interference with folic acid metabolism by oxidized fats is at 50 SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS I 962 present hypothetical.…”

The Significance of the Plasma Tocopherol Concentration and of Tocopherol Tolerance Tests in Liver Disease 1

“…The possibility of alterations in tocopherol metabolism in patients with liver disease has received little attention in the past. Recently, however, several investigators have reported low plasma tocopherol concentrations (17,18,19) and abnormally flat tolerance curves following the oral-administration of tocopherol (17,19) in some cases of cirrhosis. Low concentrations of tocopherol have also been reported in liver tissue in both cirrhosis and obstructive jaundice (19).…”

“…Indeed no clear-cut evidence of vitamin E deficiency has been demonstrated in man, with one possible exception. Pappenheimer and Victor (20) have found "ceroid" pigment, muscular dystrophy and testicular atrophy, suggestive of vitamin E deficiency, in tissues obtained from patients dying of cirrhosis and non-tropical sprue, conditions in which low plasma tocopherol levels have been reported (18,21).…”