The effect of chronic hypocholesterolemia in myeloproliferative disease on the distribution of plasma and erythrocyte tocopherol

The presence of hypocholesterolemia and increased erythrocyte lipid peroxidation susceptibility in myeloproliferative disorders raised the possibility of coexistent tocopherol deficiency. Plasma and red blood cell (RBC) α-tocopherol, β- + γ-tocopherol, and free cholesterol were determined simultaneously by high performance liquid chromatography in 22 patients and 26 controls. Plasma α-tocopherol was correlated most highly with plasma free cholesterol and secondarily with RBC α-tocopherol in both groups. Plasma-free cholesterol and α-tocopherol were significantly reduced in myeloproliferative disease, although the ratio between the two remained normal. Erythrocyte tocopherol and free cholesterol concentrations were normal in myeloproliferative disease. High relative retention of tocopherol by erythrocytes was most pronounced in patients with the lowest plasma α-tocopherol and free cholesterol levels. The normal RBC tocopherol levels in these patients with chronic hypocholesterolemia indicate that the observed increase in RBC peroxidation susceptibility is not explainable by a deficiency of RBC vitamin E.