Altered lipoprotein metabolism in spontaneous vitamin E deficiency of owl monkeys.

Certain owl monkeys (AOT) develop spontaneous hemolytic anemia that responds to vitamin E. The anemia is associated with red blood cell lipid peroxidation and altered red blood cell membrane lipid composition. To investigate these changes, plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles were characterized in anemic, anemia-susceptible, and anemia-resistant AOT. The plasma vitamin E and vitamin A concentrations were assessed as an index of fat absorption and the effect of corn oil supplementation and vitamin E-selenium injection were measured. Anemia-susceptible AOT had depressed plasma levels of vitamin E and A and an altered lipoprotein metabolism characterized by elevated ratios of low/high density lipoprotein cholesterol and free to esterified cholesterol in these lipoproteins. Vitamin E-selenium injection in anemia-susceptible AOT increased the plasma vitamin E, and vitamin E and corn oil supplements reduced the high density lipoprotein free to esterified cholesterol ratio. The data suggest that the AOT suffer from fat malabsorption and that the consequences (including tocopherol deficiency) result in altered cholesterol metabolism.