[Vitamin E concentration in children with proteino-energetic malnutrition].

Fourty eight malnourished infants were studied in regard to plasma vitamin E levels. The mean plasma vitamin E concentration was 0.41 mg/dL (+/- 0.20); the values ranged from less than 0.10 to 0.96. Only 4 children had an acceptable level of this vitamin (greater than 0.70 mg/dL). The possible interrelationship of vitamin E and red cell fragments in blood was investigated in 24 of the children. The data obtained do not suggest that a low plasmatic vitamin E level is not related to either, red cell fragmented or hemoglobin level.