High-Dose Vitamin E Does Not Decrease the Rate of Chronic Hemolysis in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Several observations made during in vitro and in vivo studies of animal and human erythrocytes have indicated that vitamin E may protect erythrocytes from oxidant-induced damage.¹ Previous reports from our laboratory have presented evidence indicating that chronic hemolysis secondary to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is attributable to oxidant-induced erythrocyte-membrane injury.^{2 3 4} Since vitamin E may function as an antioxidant in erythrocytes, its use in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency accompanied by chronic hemolytic disease has been investigated.^1,5,6 Two of these studies indicated that high-dose vitamin E reduced the rate of hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency,^1,5 whereas no change was observed.