Vitamin E supplementation suppresses indexes of lipid peroxidation and platelet counts in blood of smokers and nonsmokers but plasma lipoprotein concentrations remain unchanged.

Smokers incur a sustained free radical load that may increase their vitamin E requirement. Erythrocytes of male smokers from a Scottish population with a habitually low vitamin E intake were more susceptible to hydrogen peroxide-stimulated peroxidation than were those from nonsmokers (P < 0.001). Plasma concentrations of lipid peroxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and conjugated dienes were also elevated in smokers compared with nonsmokers (P < 0.05). These indexes of oxidative stress were markedly decreased (P < 0.001) in the smokers and nonsmokers after consumption of 280 mg dl-alpha tocopherol acetate/d for 10 wk. Platelet numbers in serum of both smokers and nonsmokers were also decreased by vitamin E supplementation (P < 0.02). Although the clinical significance of the results is unclear, elevated indexes of lipid peroxidation are associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and platelets are involved with fibrinolysis. Therefore, both smokers and non-smokers may benefit from increased vitamin E intakes.