Role of Vitamin E-Coated Membrane in Reducing Advanced Glycation End Products in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are markers of oxidative stress. Aims: To assess if a vitamin-E-coated dialyzer affects plasma AGE levels and endothelial function in hemodialysis patients. Methods: 16 patients were dialyzed with a synthetic modified cellulose membrane (SMC, n = 8) or a vitamin E-coated dialyzer (n = 8), respectively. At week 32 endothelial function was determined as brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Total AGEs, free pentosidine (FP), protein-bound pentosidine (BP) and autoantibodies against oxidized LDL (ox-LDL-autoantibodies) were assessed at baseline (T0) and at 16, 32, 40 and 42 weeks (T16, T32, T40 and T42). Results: At T16 and T32 FP and BP were lower in vitamin E than in SMC (T 16: 88.7 ± 8.96 vs. 124.2 ± 11.90 pmol/ml plasma; p = 0.04, and 22.9 ± 2.99 vs. 32.8 ± 2.98 pmol/mg proteins; p = 0.04. T32: 78.7 ± 8.54 vs. 123.7 ± 10.15 pmol/ml plasma; p = 0.007, and 19.9 ± 2.0 vs. 33.67 ± 2.41 pmol/mg proteins; p = 0.001). In vitamin E, AGEs were lower at T32, T40 and T42 (946.7 ± 80.91 vs. 1,351.2 ± 179.33 AU/ml, p = 0.05; 986.9 ± 59.63 vs. 1,509.9 ± 154.17 AU/ml, p = 0.013; 890.3 ± 73.70 vs. 1,453.9 ± 153.16 AU/ml, p = 0.009). At T32 AGEs, ox-LDL autoantibodies and FMD were inversely correlated (R = –0.70 p = 0.007 and R = –0.59, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: Vit E-coated membrane reduces plasma AGEs levels and AGEs values are negatively correlated with FMD.