Triglyceride-lowering effect of dietary vitamin E in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Increased lipoprotein lipase activity in livers of diabetic rats fed high dietary vitamin E.

High vitamin E supplementation in the diets of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats eliminates accumulation of lipid peroxides in the plasma and the liver, returns the plasma triglycerides toward normal levels, and increases the activity of lipoprotein lipase. Vitamin E has no effect on the levels of insulin or glucose. These findings suggest that vitamin E increases the total hepatic triglyceride lipase activity by increasing the lipoprotein lipase activity possibly by protecting the membrane-bound lipase against peroxidative damage.