To investigate whether α-tocopherol supplementation in workers exposed to lead would reduce the oxidative stress intensity and decrease homocysteine level, the examined population was randomly divided into two groups. Workers in the first group (n = 49, reference group) were not administered any drugs. Workers in the second group (n = 34) were administered orally α-tocopherol, 200 mg per day for 12 weeks. The level of α-tocopherol significantly increased compared to the baseline and the reference group. The level of thiol groups significantly increased compared to the reference group. However, the levels of malondialdehyde and homocysteine did not significantly change. Animal studies suggest the ability of α-tocopherol administration to reverse adverse health effects of lead exposure, such as oxidative stress; however, the results of this study on humans do not confirm these protective effects.
Keywords: antioxidants; homocysteine; lead poisoning; lipid peroxidation; oxidative stress; α-Tocopherol.