Effects of vitamin E on liver DNA.

Vitamin E, both in the form of dl-alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, was capable of inducing an increased alkaline elution rate of liver DNA from rats treated i.p. with the vitamin. This activity was clearly both dose- and time-dependent. A statistically significant effect was observed at dosages (1.25-5.00 mg/kg) that are in the range of biological activity of the vitamin in the rat (reabsorption-gestation bioassay). Moreover, the effect was observed at dosages that are clearly not toxic. An increased alkaline elution rate of DNA is usually interpreted as suggestive of DNA damage, however recent observations seem to indicate that functional modifications of chromatin packaging can also affect the elution rate of DNA.