Effect of tocopherol on photooxidation rate of human erythrocyte membrane in vitro.

Study indicates that tocopherol's ability to prevent erythrocyte photohemolysis is a result of selective chemical trapping of the photooxidation-generated oxidant, singlet oxygen, before it can cause peroxidation of the essential unsaturated lipids in the erythrocyte membrane. The data provide fundamental information that support the purported clinical efficacy of tocopherol in the treatment of congenital erythrocyte membrane oxyhemolysis.