THE SERUM STATUS OF TOCOPHEROL AND RETINOL AND THEIR RELATION TO LIPIDS IN PERSONS AGED 10-72 IN NEPAL

This study examined the serum status of serum alpha-tocopherol (Toc), retinol (Ret), and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and the correlations among them in sera of persons aged 10-72 (42 males and 38 females) living in southeastern Nepal. Serum levels of Toc, Ret and cholesterol (Chol) were positively related to age (r = 0.47, r = 0.55, and r = 0.39, p < 0.001, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the sexes for average Toc (3.74 and 3.37 mug/ml) and Chol (133 and 128 mg/100 ml) for males and females, respectively. The levels of mean Ret and triglycerides (TG) were significantly higher for males (534 ng/ml and 132 mg/100 ml, respectively) than for females (420 ng/ml and 102 mg/100 ml, respectively) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). A direct relationship was found between the levels of Toc and Ret (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). Serum levels of Toc and Ret were positively related to the levels of Chol (r = 0.71 and r = 0.67, p < 0.001, respectively) and TG (r = 60 and r = 0.64, p < 0.001, respectively).