Vitamin E status of pregnant women with respect to platelet and buccal mucosal cell tocopherol levels

Abstract

The changes of platelet and buccal mucosal cell alpha-tocopherol levels in pregnant women were studied in relation to the plasma tocopherol and lipid levels during gestation, in order to assess the vitamin E status of pregnant women. Plasma tocopherol levels increased during gestation, accompanied by a simultaneous increase in plasma total lipids. The ratio of plasma tocopherol to plasma total lipids (proposed by Horwitt as the best index of vitamin E status), remained unchanged during gestation. On the other hand, the platelet alpha-tocopherol level increased gradually without any change in the platelet count. The alpha-tocopherol levels in buccal mucosal cells of women at less than 20 weeks of gestation and women at 21 weeks or more was compared. The mean buccal mucosal cell tocopherol level was significantly higher in the late gestation group than in the early gestation group ( P < 0.05). These findings suggests that the vitamin E stores of pregnant women are increased during the course of gestation.