Dose dependent elevation of plasma tocotrienol levels and its effect on arterial compliance, plasma total antioxidant status, and lipid profile in healthy humans supplemented with tocotrienol rich vitamin E

• Published in: Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology
• Main Author: Rasool A.H.G.; Yuen K.H.; Yusoff K.; Wong A.R.; Rahman A.R.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33847124019&doi=10.3177%2fjnsv.52.473&partnerID=40&md5=2325eb3106394f6a0027d8c07bafe6e3

Tocotrienols are a class of vitamin E reported to be potent antioxidants, besides having the ability to inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. This study assessed the effects of 3 doses of tocotrienol-rich vitamin E (TRE) on plasma tocotrienol isomer concentration, arterial compliance, plasma total antioxidant status (TAS), aortic systolic blood pressure (ASBP), serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in healthy males. Methodology: This randomised, blinded end-point, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a parallel design involved 36 healthy male subjects who took either an oral placebo or TRE at doses of 80, 160 or 320 mg daily for 2 mo. Baseline and end-of-treatment measurements of vitamin E concentration, arterial compliance [assessed by aortic femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI)], ASBP, plasma TAS, serum TC and LDL-C were taken. Results: Baseline tocotrienol isomer concentrations were low and not detectable in some subjects. Upon supplementation, all TRE-treated groups showed significant difference from placebo for their change in α, γ and δ tocotrienol concentrations from baseline to end of treatment. There was a linear dose and blood level relationship for all the isomers. There was no significant difference between groups for their change in PWV, Al, plasma TAS, ASBP, TC or LDL-C from baseline to end of treatment. Groups 160 mg (p=0.024) and 320 mg (p=0.049) showed significant reductions in their ASBP. Group 320 mg showed a significant 9.2% improvement in TAS. Conclusion: TRE at doses up to 320 mg daily were well tolerated. Treatment significantly increased α, δ, and γ tocotrienol concentrations but did not significantly affect arterial compliance, plasma TAS, serum TC or LDL-C levels in normal subjects.