Short-term parenteral application of α-tocopherol leads to increased concentration in plasma and tissues of the rat

Numerous studies suggest that supplemental vitamin E prior to or during vast surgeries might diminish or even prevent ischemia/reperfusion-induced injuries. In the present placebo-controlled study male Sprague-Dawley rats were supplemented parenterally or orally with α-tocopherol for three consecutive days. The applied amount of α-tocopherol was 2.3 μmol per day for oral and 1.2 μmol per day for parenteral supplementation. The enrichment of vitamin E concentrations in plasma and tissue samples (aortic endothelium, liver, and lung) was determined by HPLC. The vitamin E level was elevated following intravenous supplementation in plasma (21.4±1.9 μmol/L vs. 10.2±1.7 μmol/L in parenteral control group), in aortic endothelium (1.1±0.2 pmol/mm2 vs. 0.5±0.1 pmol/mm2) and in liver and lung (41.3±7.5 pmol/mg vs. 22.9±6.5 pmol/mg and 75.6±13.6 pmol/mg vs. 51.7±5.9 pmol/mg, respectively). Oral supplementation for three days also led to an increased level in liver (38.2±7.7 pmol/mg vs. 22.9±6.6 pmol/mg in oral control group) and in lung (67.8±5.7 pmol/mg vs. 51.7±9.3 pmol/mg) but not in aortic endothelium or plasma (0.8±0.3 pmol/mm2 vs. 0.6±0.3 pmol/mm2 and 12.0±2.2 μmol/L vs. 10.7±2.6 μol/L.)