Fig. 4. Effects of the parameters characterizing vitamin E and essential fatty acid status of preterm infants on plasma TBARS concentrations of red blood cells. Pathological EA/AA ratio alone did not alter plasma TBARS concentration. Vitamin E deficiency significantly elevated plasma TBARS concentration compared to control (p<0.01). Infants with both vitamin E deficiency and with pathological EA/AA ratio exhibited plasma TBARS levels (compared to control p<0.005; compared to the vitamin E deficiency group p<0.05).