Serum vitamin E,lipid peroxide and glutathione peroxidase in patients with chronic pancreatitis

It has been reported that lipid peroxidation increases in patients with antioxidant deficiencies, such as vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase. The relationships between serum lipid peroxide and vitamin E on the one hand and glutathione peroxidase on the other were examined in 22 patients with chronic pancreatitis, often accompanied by malabsorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins due to the impaired exocrine pancreatic function.Both serum vitamin E concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities were depressed, especially in patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis. On the other hand, serum lipid peroxide levels were elevated. A significant negative correlation was found between the serum lipid peroxide levels and vitamin E concentration.These findings suggest that an elevation of the serum lipid peroxide level may be due to the lack of an antioxidative defense mechanism, such as vitamin E, against lipid peroxide.