Vitamin E deficiency increases serum thromboxane A 2, platelet arachidonate and lipid peroxidation in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether dietary linoleate and all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) interact to affect serum thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2) and prostacyclin (PGI 2) status and therefore, thrombogenic potential. 6 groups of 12 weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semipurified diets containing 11 or 18% of energy from linoleate and 0, 100 or 5000 mg vitamin E/kg diet for 10 weeks. Platelet and serum α-tocopherol concentrations increased logarithmically with increasing dietary vitamin E. Serum TXA 2, measured as TXB 2, platelet arachidonate and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly greater in the vitamin E deficient groups than in groups receiving vitamin E (p < 0.05). Serum PGI 2 levels, determined as 6-keto-PGF 1α, were not affected by diets. No interaction was found between dietary linoleate and vitamin E. However, vitamin E supplementation produced significantly less serum TXB 2 than did vitamin E deficient diets (p < 0.05). Vitamin E deficiency may be prothrombogenic by increasing platelet arachidonate, lipid peroxidation and serum TXA 2 levels while vitamin E supplementation at levels used in this study may decrease such effects.