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Test Name:
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
- SBMF No:
23303 - Performance Lab Name:
Manual Lab - Test Mnemonic:
VIT E - ABN:
Required – Not FDA-Approved - CPT Code:
84446 - LOINC Code:
47791-9 - Also Known As:
Tocopherol - Spec Type:
Serum - Spec Container:
Gold top (SST) or red top (serum) tube - Alt Spec Type:
Plasma - Alt Spec Container:
Lavender top (EDTA) tube - Pref Vol:
1.0 mL - Min Vol:
0.5 mL - Fasting:
Yes - Patient Prep:
Fasting for at least 8 hours
Recommend abstaining from alcohol for 24 hours before specimen collection - Spec Collect:
Routine venipuncture - Spec Process:
Protect from light
Serum sample tubes, clot 30 minutes
All tubes, promptly centrifuge 15 minutes
Immediately transfer serum or plasma to amber transfer tube - Spec Store Transport:
Refrigerated and protected from light - Spec Stability:
48 hours refrigerated (2-8°C) and protected from light
3 months frozen (-20°) and protected from light – Do not use frost-free units that undergo repeated freeze/thaw cycles - Methodology:
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) - Use:
Quantitation of circulating Vitamin E (tocopherol) concentration - Clinical Significance:
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that is widely distributed in foodstuffs, such as wheat germ oil and sunflower oil, grains and nuts. It is absorbed in the small intestine in the presence of bile. Although deficiency rarely occurred from diet, mal-absorption and deficiency may develop in cases of chronic intraluminal interstinal bile deficiency.
Inhibition of free-radical chain reactions of lipid peroxidation is the most thoroughly defined role of vitamin E. Vitamin E inhibits lipid peroxidation mainly because it scavenges lipid peroxyl radicals faster than the radical can react with adjacent fatty acid side chains or membrane proteins. The resultant tocopheryl or tocotrienyl radicals may then react with further peroxyl radicals to produce tocopherones (nonradicals), or be generated by transferring an electron to ascorbate to form the ascorbyl radical. Vitamins E and C act synergistically to reduce lipid peroxidation.
Vitamin E has been also recognized as necessary for neurological and reproductive functions, for protecting the red cell from hemolysis and for prevention of retinopathy in premature infants.
- Reference Range:
0–1 month 1.0–3.5 mg/L 2–5 months 2.0–6.0 mg/L 6 months–1 year 3.5–8.0 mg/L 2–12 years 5.5–9.0 mg/L 13 years and older 5.5–18.0 mg/L - Additional Test Info:
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by South Bend Medical Foundation laboratory. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The test is used for clinical purposes and should not be regarded as investigational or for research. SBMF is certified under CLIA as qualified to perform high complexity clinical laboratory testing. - Day Run:
Tue, Fri - Test Type:
CHEMISTRY
