Comparison of effect of vitamin E-coated dialyzer and oral vitamin E on hemodialysis-induced Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase

Background: We reported earlier that production of Cu/ Zn- superoxide dismutase ( SOD) increases markedly in hemodialysis patients but not in non- dialyzed chronic renal failure ( CRF) patients. In this study, we compared the antioxidant effects of oral vitamin E supplementation ( VE- PO) and vitamin E coating of a dialyzer ( VE- BMD) by measuring increased Cu/ Zn- SOD in hemodialysis patients. Methods: 31 hemodialysis patients were divided into two groups: 16 hemodialysis patients underwent usual dialysis with vitamin E supplementation 600 mg/ day while 15 others were dialyzed using vitamin E- coated membrane for 6 months. Total plasma SOD activity was determined by NBT method, plasma Cu/ Zn- SOD contents by ELISA and Cu/ Zn- SOD mRNA in leukocytes by RT- PCR. Results: VE- PO and VE- BMD showed almost comparable effects on Cu/ Zn- SOD contents and its mRNA levels in hemodialysis patients. VE- PO resulted in a progressive decrease of Cu/ Zn- SOD content ( p < 0.001). A comparable progressive decrease was observed also in VE- BMD ( p < 0.0001). Both VE- PO and VE-BMD resulted in a progressive decrease of Cu/ Zn- SOD mRNA ( p < 0.01), which reached the level of non- dialyzed CRF patients. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.