Vitamin E, serum

Clinical background:

Vitamin E (tocopherol)

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin of which alpha tocopherol has the highest biological activity. It is found in vegetables, seed oils and nuts. It is absorbed in the small intestine with about half passing to the liver and half passing into the lymph. Within the blood it is transported bound to LDL and HDL. Vitamin E accumulates in the liver, muscle and adipose tissue.

Vitamin E is an important chain-breaking antioxidant in cell membranes. It also acts to modulate signal transduction pathways.
Deficiency is rare but may occur in premature and newborn babies, conditions associated with fat malabsorption, patients on parenteral nutrition, abetalipoproteinaemia, homozygous hypobetalipoproteinaemia, familial isolated Vitamin E deficiency. This may result in peripheral neuropathy and spinocerebellar syndrome. Note that newborn babies have low serum Vitamin E concentration compared with adults, but may not have true Vitamin E deficiency i.e. with symptoms.
Relative to other fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin E is safe. Few side effects have been reported even on very high doses.

Specimen container paediatric:

• Serum (Gold/SST)
• Plasma (Purple/EDTA or Green/Lithium Heparin)

Specimen container adult:

• Serum (Gold/SST)
• Plasma (Purple/EDTA or Green/Lithium Heparin)

Minimum volume paediatric:

1.0 mL

Minimum volume adult:

1.0 mL

Special requirements:

Protect samples from light.

Sample stability:

• Stable for 6 hours unseparated.
• Once separated freeze within 1 hour

Transport requirements:

Ambient temperature.

Add on test:

No

Quality assurance:

NEQAS

Reference ranges:

Other info:

Assay performed by HPLC with UV detection