Reduction of osmotic haemolysis and anaemia by high dose vitamin E supplementation in regular haemodialysis patients.

In 15 haemodialysis patients receiving oral vitamin E supplementation, 600mg daily for 30 days, both plasma and RBC vitamin E concentrations were significantly increased, while in unsupplemented patients the values remained unchanged. Mean osmolarity at which in vitro haemolysis occurs at the start and end of haemodialysis decreased from 102.8 +/- 0.9 to 98.9 +/- 0.7 and 72.1 +/- 1.1 to 67.4 +/- 0.8mOsm/L, respectively in supplemented patients. In addition the Hct increased from 26.1 +/- 1.0 to 28.1 +/- 1.2 per cent (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, oral supplementation of vitamin E could be of clinical benefit in correcting anaemia in regular dialysis patients by reducing the fragility of red blood cells.