Introduction

The antioxidant effects of vitamins may attenuate the oxidative stress on organs imposed by ischemia–reperfusion injury during the process of organ transplantation from brain-dead donors. Circulating levels of vitamins A, C, and E-α in donors after brain death and their relationships to donor demographics, management, organ utilization, and recipient outcomes are largely unknown.

Methods

An observational, prospective, cohort study of 84 consecutive brain-dead organ donors managed at a single organ procurement recovery center was conducted. Vitamin levels were drawn immediately prior to procurement.

Results

Levels of serum vitamins A and E-α and plasma vitamin C were below normal in 80%, 85%, and 92% of donors and deficient in 40%, 62%, and 63%, respectively. Vitamin C deficiency was associated with a longer time between death and specimen collection (P = .004). Death from head trauma and stroke were associated with lower levels of vitamin A than from anoxic causes (P = .003) and smokers had greater vitamin C deficiency (P = .03). During donor management, vitamin C deficiency was associated with longer vasopressor support (P = .03) and normal levels of vitamin E-α were associated with reaching a lower alanine transferase compared to those with subnormal levels (P < .05). Donors deficient in vitamin E-α were less likely to have a liver recovered for transplantation (P = .005). Vitamin levels were not associated with the recipient outcomes examined.

Conclusion

Circulating vitamins A, C, and E-α is profoundly low in brain-dead organ donors, associated with relevant demographic features of the donor, and may influence donor management and organ utilization.