An investigation into a relationship between vitamin A and vitamin E deficiency and lipid composition of erythrocyte membrane

Through extensive research it has been determined that erythrocyte fragility is linked with several biological and physiological disorders. One prominent disorder tied to erythrocyte fragility is low serum vitamin E concentration. Researchers have also determined that Down's Syndrome patients experience an increase in the hemolysis of erythrocytes. Down's Syndrome, which is associated with a trisomatic condition of an autosomal chromosome, has also been tied to a deficiency of both vitamin A and vitamin E. All of this information sparked the current investigation into a possible relationship between lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes, erythrocyte fragility, and a vitamin A and vitamin E deficiency by this research project. Statistically it was determined that a deficiency of vitamin A and vitamin E in rats corresponded to low levels of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphotidylcholine in the erythrocyte membrane as compared to controls. This evidence indicates that there is, in fact, a relationship between deficiencies of vitamin A and vitamin E and reduced levels of lipid composition in erythrocyte membranes. The remaining lipids in the membrane, such as, cholesterol, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylserine did not demonstrate a significant reduction as compared to the controls. Sphingomyelin was not detectable by the method used and therefore could not be compared