Vitamin E levels in buccal cells of arsenicosis patients following vitamin E supplementation

Mir Misbahuddin ,Nadia Farha

doi:10.3329/bjp.v8i3.14954

Mir Misbahuddin , Nadia Farha

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjp.v8i3.14954

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Abstract

To understand the role of vitamin E in the treatment of arsenical melanosis and keratosis, the buccal cells of 19 patients, 14 arsenic exposed controls and 13 healthy volunteers were collected for the estimation of vitamin E both before and after supplementation with vitamin E (200 IU, caplet) daily orally for 20 weeks. The vitamin E levels in the buccal cells of patients were significantly low in comparison to healthy volunteers (healthy vs patients: 17.2 ± 4.4 vs 12.3 ± 6.1 mg/mg of protein; p=0.012). These low level of vitamin E in patients returned toward normal levels following supplementation with vitamin E for 20 weeks (p=0.044). The vitamin E levels in serum of patients were also low (healthy vs patients: 18.9 ± 4.4 vs 10.2 ± 2.6 mg/mL; p=0.000). Supplementation with vitamin E overcomed the low levels of vitamin E in serum. The cholesterol levels in buccal cells and serum of patients were significantly low in comparison to healthy volunteers (buccal cells of healthy vs patients: 24.5 ± 14.1 vs 10.3 ± 9.8 mg/mg of protein; p=0.005; serum of healthy vs patients: 153.5 ± 22.8 vs 125.3 ± 37.0 mg/dL; p=0.012). After supplementation of vitamin E, there was no significant change in cholesterol levels in both buccal cells and serum of patients.

Highlights

Arsenicosis is primarily presented by melanosis and keratosis (Caussy, 2005; Misbahuddin et al, 2011)
We took vitamin E as a symbol of a supplement, buccal cells as a symbol of cell to understand the intracellular environment and a parameter such as intracellular cholesterol level to see whether it is influenced by vitamin E or not
There are 1,791 reported cases of arsenicosis and 40,170 tube wells, of which 79.4% tube wells are contaminated with arsenic (>50 μg/L)

Summary

Introduction

Arsenicosis is primarily presented by melanosis and keratosis (Caussy, 2005; Misbahuddin et al, 2011). Melanosis is usually seen in unexposed parts of the skin whereas keratosis at the palms and soles These symptoms disappear by stoppage of arsenic consumption. Supplementation with beta-carotene, vitamin A (Hall, 1946; Ahmad et al, 1998), vitamin C (Ahmad et al, 1998; Saha, 2006), vitamin E (Ahmad et al, 1998), folic acid (Rahman and Misbahuddin, 2010), α-lipoic acid (Tabassum, 2006), zinc (Kamaluddin and Misbahuddin, 2006), selenium (Nasir et al, 2002), spirulina (Fariduddin et al, 2001; Misbahuddin et al, 2006) have the ability to reduce body arsenic load both in animal and human study and may reduce symptoms of melanosis and keratosis. We took vitamin E (mainly prescribed by the physician) as a symbol of a supplement, buccal cells ( collected from the patient) as a symbol of cell to understand the intracellular environment and a parameter such as intracellular cholesterol level to see whether it is influenced by vitamin E or not

Materials and Methods

Ethical consideration

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Discussion