Lipid peroxidation during chronic inflammation induced in rats by Freund's adjuvant: effect of vitamin E as measured by expired pentane.

Expired pentane, a product of omega 6-unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxide decomposition, and foot volume were measured following injection of Freund's adjuvant into the hind feet of vitamin E-deficient rats injected 1 wk previously with either 0 or 100 mg of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate/100 g body weight. Vitamin E inhibited pentane production after 21 and 28 days. This is the first demonstration in vivo of increased lipid peroxidation and its inhibition by vitamin E during adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation. By 28 days, foot volume was significantly less in vitamin E-injected rats (162%) than in vitamin E-deficient rats (207%).