Changes in plasma and RBC tocopherol levels were investigated in relation to those in plasma lipids during neonatal periods. A prompt increase in plasma tocopherol level was observed during the first 7 days after birth, which was followed by only a slight increase thereafter, while no significant increase was observed in RBC tocopherol level throughout the first 5 weeks of life. A reasonable correlation was observed between plasma tocopherol and RBC tocopherol at every week examination after birth. There was no correlation between plasma tocopherol and plasma lipids or betalipoproteins immediately after birth, while the correlation was significant one week after birth. The frequency of vitamin E deficiency based on the index of the ratio of plasma tocopherol to total lipids (T/L) did not coincide with that based on the RBC tocoperol level in early neonatal periods. Although neonates were unlikely deficient in the RBC tocopherol levels, they might be yet in marginal deficiency from the finding of T/L ratio. The evaluation of the indexes was discussed in nutritional status of vitamin E in neonatal periods.
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