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Survival in Septic Guinea Pigs Is Influenced by Vitamin E, but Not by Vitamin C in Enteral Diets

Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and Shriners Burns Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio

J. Wesley Alexander, M.D., Sc.D.

Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and Shriners Burns Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio

Oxygen-free radicals are produced during sepsis, and may contribute to cell injury and dysfunction. We studied the effect of different levels of vitamins E and C in the diet fed enterally to septic guinea pigs. Sixty-four female guinea pigs were provided with gastrostomies and allowed to recover. Intraperitoneal osmotic pumps were then implanted that provided effusion of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus for the next 7 days. Three days after pump implantations, the animals were started on one of nine diets. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous, and differed only in the amounts of vitamins E and C. Three levels of each vitamin were used, based on the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The feedings were continued for 2 weeks, during which time mortality was observed. The amount of vitamin C had no effect on outcome, with mortality rates of 68% (15/22) in the 1 x RDA group, 73% (16/22) in the 5 x RDA group, and 65% (13/20) in the 25 x RDA group. However, vitamin E altered outcome significantly, with mortality rates of 86% (18/21) in the 1 x RDA group, 45% (10/22) in the 3 x RDA group, and 76% (16/21) in the 9 x RDA group. Mortality in the 3 x RDA group was significantly lower than that in the 1 x RDA group and in the 9 x RDA group. We conclude that supplemental vitamin C has no effect on outcome in this model. However, survival in guinea pigs with peritonitis appears to be sensitive to the amount of vitamin E in the diet. We conjecture that low levels of vitamin E may be inadequate to protect against lipid peroxidation during sepsis. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 15:433-436, 1991)

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Vol. 15, No. 4, 433-436 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/0148607191015004433


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