Effects of vitamin E-modified dialysis membrane on lipids in patients on hemodialysis

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of a vitamin E-modified dialysis membrane on lipids in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Forty patients on maintenance HD were divided into two groups. Patients in group A (n=20) were subjected to HD with a vitamin E-modified membrane; patients in group B (n=20) were subjected to HD only with conventional dialyzers for a period of 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected prior to the first and thirteenth dialysis sessions to determine the concentrations of malonylaldehyde (MDA), vitamin E, red blood cells (RBC), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TCH), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), lipoprotein A [Lp(a)], 2 apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA)1) in plasma. In group A we observed a significant increase in vitamin E in both plasma (P=0.003) and RBC (P=0.032), and a decline in MDA in both plasma (P=0.043) and RBC (P=0.033). There were no marked changes in TC, TG, LDL and HDL, but a decline in Lp (a) (P=0.049) and ApoB (P=0.040) and a significant increase in ApoA1(P=0.027). In group B, no significant changes of any of the relevant parameters were detected upon conclusion of the study. Vitamin E-modified membranes supply anti-oxidant effects on patients on HD and likely improve lipoprotein metabolism. These effects reduce cardiovascular risk in HD patients.