Effect of vitamin E supplementation on lipid peroxidation in blood and lung of influenza virus infected mice

The influenza virus infection (A/Aichi/2/68) was associated with development of oxidative stress in lung and blood of mice, accompanied by an increase in levels of lipid peroxidation products (conjugated diens and total malondialdehyde) and a decrease in endogenous amounts of natural antioxidant vitamin E. These effects were most pronounced on the 5th day after virus inoculation, in comparison with those on the 7th. Supplementation of mice with exogenous vitamin E before virus inoculation lead to lung and blood protection against lipid peroxidation. A marked decrease in lipid peroxidation products and an increase in vitamin E content was established in blood and lung on the 5th and 7th day after virus inoculation. The stabilizing effect of vitamin E is dose-dependent in blood and dose-independent in lung, and was most pronounced on the 5th day after virus inoculation in comparison with the 7th day. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.