['Vitamin E deficiency is a major problem in cystic fibrosis. Modern pancreatic enzymes may improve the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins to make water dispersion less important. In order to compare the absorption of fat-soluble (F) and water-miscible (W) tocopheryl acetate, equivalent amounts (10 mg/kg body weight) were given to five patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and five age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum was analysed for vitamin E using HPLC before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24 and 28 h after the oral intake. The median peak concentrations in the sera of controls were 41.9 micromol/L after F and 39.8 micromol/L after W preparations, corresponding values in CF patients being 21.3 and 26.8 micromol/L, and corresponding means +/- SD were 41.6+/-6.7 and 38.4+/-3.3, and 27.1+/-14.5 and 28.8+/-8.3, respectively. Although the area under the curve was lower for W than F preparations in both CF patients and controls, these differences were not significant.'] Is water-miscible tocopherol superior to fat-soluble preparation for vitamin E absorption in cystic fibrosis?