Serum levels of α-tocopherol (α-Toc), lipoperoxide (TBARS) and lipids were studied in the acute stage of stroke. Serum α-Toc was 0.74±0.32mg/dl (n=67) within 48 hours of the onset of stroke, which was significantly lower than the level of the control group (0.99±0.22mg/dl). Concurrently, serum TBARS was 6.04±2.17nmol/ml (n=57) which was markedly higher than the level of the control group (3.22±0.89nmol/ml).
No correlation was seen in serum α-Toc and TBARS. However, serum total cholesterol (TC) correlated with α-Toc in stroke. Serum α-Toc of most cases of stroke dropped to the lowest level in the first 5 to 6 days and thereafter recovered gradually. The ratio of α-Toc to TC in serum reached a minimum in the early phase and then rose gradually over two weeks. Serum TBARS increased during the first week, and thereafter decreased slowly. These results imply that α-Toc may be consumed as an antioxidant against lipoperoxide which presumably increases depending on tissue damage induced by stroke.
