Effect of Oral Vitamin E on Serum Lipid Profile of Apparently Healthy Nigerians in Benin City

Purpose: To investigate the effect of oral vitamin E on serum lipid profile of Apparently Healthy Nigerians in Benin City
Methods: Fifty eight apparently healthy non-smoking males aged 30 -59 years were randomly selected from Benin metropolis and were divided in three groups. The effect of oral vitamin E (a potent antioxidant) supplementation in various dosages 100 mg/day, 200 mg/day and 400 mg/day for 21 days on Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, High Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein and Very low Density Lipoprotein was examined.
Results: The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein of the subjects showed a decrease which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05) after treatment with various doses of oral vitamin E.
Conclusion: The effect of oral vitamin E on blood lipids is not significant when administered alone to healthy male subjects. This may be due to the function of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) as a pro-oxidant in the formation of lipid radical via α-tocopherol mediated pathway.

Keywords
Atherosclerosis; Pro - oxidant; Vitamin E; Antioxidants; Lipid profile; Dyslipidaemia