Biochemical and clinical effects of vitamin E administration in homozygous beta-thalassemia

In beta-thalassemic homozygotes, low plasma levels of tocopherols may induce a red blood cell (RBC) lipid peroxidation and consequent hemolysis. This is an indication to treat these patients with vitamin E. In this study 26 beta-thalassemic homozygotes aged 2-14 years were given vitamin E, 10 orally and 16 parenterally, 300 mg per day for 15 day. Prior to administration and blood transfusion, as compared to normal subjects of the same age, plasma and RBC tocopherols were significantly lower, whereas RBC malonyldialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased. In both groups, after tocopherol administration, an increase in plasma and RBC tocopherols and a decrease in RBC MDA were found. The significance of these variations was greater in the parenterally treated group than in the orally treated group. The treatment with vitamin E appears to be effective to reduce the RBC oxidative damage in homozygous beta-thalassemia, principally when administered parenterally perhaps because of its poor intestinal absorption in these subjects.