Dietary vitamin E supplementation protects the rat large intestine from experimental inflammation.

Vitamin E, the most potent antioxidant in the lipid phase, was tested for antiinflammatory activity in trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced rat colitis. Rats were fed a nonpurified diet (saline and control groups) or a vitamin E supplemented diet (treated group, 300 mg/kg nonpurified diet). Vitamin E supplementation, which resulted in increased colonic vitamin E levels, reduced colonic weight and damage score, prevented lipid peroxidation and diarrhea, reduced interleukin-1 beta levels and preserved glutathione reductase activity and total glutathione levels. However, it did not modify myeloperoxidase levels, which are indicative of neutrophil infiltration in the inflamed colon. Vitamin E protects the rat colon from oxidative stress associated with inflammation.