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Vitamin E in Neural and Visual Function
Author(s) -
HAYTON S M,
MULLER D P R
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1331.026
Subject(s) - vitamin e , lipid peroxidation , tocopherol , vitamin e deficiency , electrophysiology , endocrinology , malondialdehyde , vitamin , medicine , chemistry , antioxidant , biology , biochemistry
A bstract : A rat model of vitamin E (α‐tocopherol) deficiency with similar “clinical,” electrophysiological, and neuropathological abnormalities to those seen in man was used to investigate the effects of various amounts and forms of α‐tocopheryl acetate (αTA) on neural and visual function. Electrophysiological techniques provide an objective, non‐invasive measure of neural and visual function. These techniques were used in the animal model to determine the minimum dietary requirement of vitamin E necessary to prevent neural and visual abnormalities. They were also used to compare the biological activities of the natural (RRR‐) and synthetic (all‐rac‐) forms of α‐tocopherol in neural tissues. The results were as follows: (1) Significant differences in neural and visual function were observed between deficient and control rats after approximately 8 months. (2) An intake of 1.0 mg/kg all‐rac‐ or 0.75 mg/kg RRR‐αTA was observed to marginally protect nerves from vitamin E deficiency. (3) The biological activity of all‐rac‐α‐tocopherol in neural tissues was approximately 75% of RRR‐α‐tocopherol. (4) The concentration of free malondialdehyde (an indicator of lipid peroxidation) was significantly increased in tissues from the deficient compared to the control animals. These results are consistent with a deficiency of α‐tocopherol causing increased lipid peroxidation leading to abnormal neural electrophysiology. They could also be explained by more specific but as yet undefined function(s) of α‐tocopherol in neural tissues.