Abstract
The investigations were carried out to clarify the relationship between Vitamin E and anemia in adults and the following results were obtained:
1. Seventy-eight cases of idiopathic hypochromic anemia (0.87±0.12 mg per 100 ml), fifteen cases of iron deficiency anemia with splenomegaly (0.88±0.16 mg per 100 ml) and three cases of hereditary spherocytosis (0.75±0.12 mg per 100 ml) showed lower levels of serum Vitamin E than one hundred healthy adults (1.25±0.12 mg per 100 ml).
2. Before iron therapy, seventeen cases of idiopathic hypochromic anemia showed a significantly higher level of C 16:0(palmitic) and C 18:0(stearic) content, and a significantly lower level of C 18:1(oleic) and C 18:2(linoleic) content of the serum fatty acid composition in comparison with healthy adults.
Following iron therapy, serum Vitamin E and C 16:0, C 18:0, C 18:1 and C 18:2 content of the serum fatty acid composition returned to normal level.
3. Six cases of iron deficiency anemia with palpoble splenomegaly also showed significantly higher level of C 16:0 and C 18:0 content, and a significantly lower level of C 18:1 and C 18:2 content of the serum fatty acid composition before treatment.
Three cases of iron deficiency anemia with palpoble splenomegaly responded to iron therapy and evinced excellent recovery from anemia and lessening of splenomegaly all three showed simila rchanges in serum Vitamin E and serum fatty acid composition following iron therapy as in cases of idiopathic hypochromic anemia.
4. In cases with insufficient recovery from idiopathic hypochromic anemia following iron therapy, lesser increase of serum Vitamin E was observed.
In a case with insufficient recovery from idiopathic hypochromic anemia following iron therapy alone, further increase of hemoglobin level was observed following combination therapy with iron and Vitamin E.
