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. 1974 Dec;10(6):1292–1295. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.6.1292-1295.1974

Vitamin E Protects Mice Against Diplococcus pneumoniae Type I Infection

Rollin H Heinzerling 1, Robert P Tengerdy 1, Linda L Wick 1, David C Lueker 1
PMCID: PMC423101  PMID: 4154920

Abstract

Vitamin E protects nonimmunized and immunized mice against fatal Diplococcus pneumoniae type I (DpI) infection. A dietary supplementation of 180 mg of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate per kg of diet increased survival of nonimmunized mice from 20 to 80% when challenged with 20 organisms, and of mice immunized with 0.5 ng of DpI polysaccharide from 15 to 70% when challenged with 20,000 organisms. The phagocytic index of immunized mice was four times higher in the 180-mg vitamin E group than in the control group. Both the survival and phagocytic index revealed a biphasic dose response, indicating a cause-effect relationship between phagocytosis and survival. Vitamin E also significantly increased the rate of carbon clearance from blood, indicating a general increase in phagocytic activity. The data indicated that increased macrophage activity probably aided by increased antibody production was the principal reason for increased protection.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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