The effect of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on the serum lipid peroxide level in elderly people.

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between the state of saturation of the organism with vitamin E and vitamin C and the serum level of lipid peroxides in elderly people. The determinations were carried out in 100 subjects, mainly women, aged 60-100 years living in old people's homes, who were given daily vitamin E, 200 mg, or vitamin C, 400 mg, or both vitamins during 1 year. A correlation was found between the degree of saturation of the organism with vitamin E and the level of lipid peroxides. The daily intake of vitamin E for 4 months decreased the serum peroxide level by a mean value of 14%; a similar intake of vitamin C decreased it by 8%, and both vitamins decreased it by 20% compared with the initial level. After 1 year, these levels were decreased by 26% (vitamin E), 13% (vitamin C) and 25% (both vitamins).