Automated measurement method for the determination of vitamin E in plasma lipoprotein classes

In a subendothelial space of atherosclerotic arteries, apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins are accumulated and oxidized, and the oxidized lipoproteins promote macrophage foam cell formation. Therefore, the analysis of vitamin E, a major antioxidant in lipoproteins, is important for understanding atherosclerotic pathogenesis. A new method for the automated measurement of vitamin-E (γ- and α-tocopherols) in plasma HDL, LDL, and VLDL was established by using anion-exchange-chromatography for separation of lipoproteins, reverse-phase-chromatography for separation of γ- and α-tocopherols in each of lipoproteins, and fluorescent detection. The within-day assay and between-day assay coefficients of variation for lipoprotein tocopherol levels were 4.73–12.84% and 7.00–14.73%, respectively. The γ- and α-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios of VLDL were higher in healthy plasma than in plasma of untreated patients with dyslipidemia, but the ratios of LDL and HDL were not different. This new estimated method can provide the reliable data of lipoprotein vitamin-E and would be useful for the clinical settings.