Monthly Archives: February 2017

Vitamin E for the treatment of children with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fiorino S, Bacchi-Reggiani ML, Leandri P, Loggi E, Andreone P.

World J Hepatol. 2017 Feb 28;9(6):333-342. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i6.333.

Abstract

To assess vitamin E efficacy, defined as its ability to induce hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion, in children with HBeAg-positive persistent hepatitis. In July 2016, we extracted articles published in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library using the following search terms: “chronic hepatitis B”, “children”, “childhood”, “therapy”, “treatment”, “vitamin E”, “tocopherols”, “tocotrienols“. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English language were collected. Three RCTs met inclusion criteria and were considered in the present meta-analysis. Overall, 23/122 children in the treatment group underwent HBeAg seroconversion vs 3/74 in the control group (OR = 3.96, 95%CI: 1.18-13.25, P = 0.025). Although our meta-analysis has several limits, including the very small number of available studies and enrolled children with HBeAg positivity-related hepatitis, it suggests that vitamin E use may enhance the probability to induce HBeAg seroconversion in these patients. Further well designed and adequately sized trials are required to confirm or deny these very preliminary results.

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Nature’s Best Kept Secret – Vitamin E Tocotrienols

Tocotrienol, a member of vitamin E family. The natural vitamin E family comprises four tocopherol and four tocotrienol isomers, namely alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ) and delta (δ). Throughout the past 30 years, very few vitamin E studies focused on tocotrienols although tocotrienols constitute half of the entire vitamin E family. In recent years, tocotrienol research has gained much prominence due to its potential health attributes. Tocotrienols are not only structurally different from tocopherols, but also possess biological functions which are not shared by the tocopherol isomers.

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Researchers find new clues about why we may want to add more Vitamin E tocotrienols to our diets

Researchers in Malaysia have uncovered another reason why you may want to start eating more foods rich in Vitamin E tocotrienols. In a new study published in the January 2012 issue of Nutrition Journal, it was revealed that these super healthy nutrients are more difficult for our bodies to absorb than other more common forms of Vitamin E, and that they appear to be metabolized (used up) faster.

The good news is that you may only need a tiny amount of tocotrienols in your body to get their neuroprotective benefits, and adding them to your diet is easier than ever.

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Antioxidant effect of vitamin E and 5-aminosalicylic acid on acrylamide induced kidney injury in rats.

Rajeh NA, Al-Dhaheri NM.

Saudi Med J. 2017 Feb;38(2):132-137. doi: 10.15537/smj.2017.2.16049.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To explore renal toxicity caused by sub-acute exposure of acrylamide and to study the protective effect of 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and Vitamin E (vit-E)on Acrylamide (ACR) induced renal toxicity. Methods: This study was conducted at King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between August and November 2015. A total of 49 adult Wistar rats (250 ± 20g) aged 60 days were kept in a controlled environment and used in the present study. The rats were divided into 7 groups (control, ACR alone, ACR+5-ASA, ACR+vit-E, ACR+ASA+vit-E, vit-E alone, and ASA alone). After 5 days of ACR oral gavage treatment, the rats were observed for 24 hours then killed. Histopathology for the kidney and lactate dehydrogenase assay were carried out.  Results: Acrylamide produced significant pathological changes in the kidney with acute tubular necrosis in the distal tubules that could be reversed by concomitant injection of rat with 5-ASA. Together with vitamin E, 5-ASA, showed maximum renal protection. No statistically significant difference was observed in either body weights or lactate dehydrogenase activity of ACR treated rats.  Conclusion: Acrylamide exposure leads to adverse clinical pathologies of renal tubules, which were reversed by a concomitant treatment with 5-ASA and vitamin-E.

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γ-Tocotrienol prevents cell cycle arrest in aged human fibroblast cells through p16INK4a pathway.

Zainuddin A, Chua KH, Tan JK, Jaafar F, Makpol S.

J Physiol Biochem. 2017 Feb;73(1):59-65. doi: 10.1007/s13105-016-0524-2. Epub 2016 Oct 14.

Abstract

Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) proliferation in culture has been used as a model of aging at the cellular level. Growth arrest is one of the most important mechanisms responsible for replicative senescence. Recent researches have been focusing on the function of vitamin E in modulating cellular signaling and gene expression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of palm γ-tocotrienol (vitamin E) in modulating cellular aging through p16INK4a pathway in HDF cells. Primary culture of senescent HDFs was incubated with 70 μM of palm γ-tocotrienol for 24 hours. Silencing of p16INK4a was carried out by siRNA transfection. RNA was extracted from the different treatment groups and gene expression analysis was carried out by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Proteins that were regulated by p16INK4a were determined by western blot technique. The finding of this study showed that p16INK4a mRNA was overexpressed in senescent HDFs, and hypophosphorylated-pRb and cyclin D1 protein expressions were increased (p < 0.05). However, downregulation of p16INK4a and hypophosphorylated-pRb and cyclin D1 protein expressions (p < 0.05) by γ-tocotrienol led to modulation of the cell cycle regulation during cellular aging. In conclusion, senescent HDFs showed change in biological process specifically in cell cycle regulation with elevated expression of genes and proteins which may contribute to cell cycle arrest. Palm γ-tocotrienol may delay cellular senescence of HDFs by regulating cell cycle through downregulation of p16INK4a and hypophosphorylated-pRb and cyclin D1 protein expressions.

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The Effects of Tocotrienol and Lovastatin Co-Supplementation on Bone Dynamic Histomorphometry and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Expression in Rats with Estrogen Deficiency.

Chin KY, Abdul-Majeed S, Mohamed N, Ima-Nirwana S.

Nutrients. 2017 Feb 15;9(2). pii: E143. doi: 10.3390/nu9020143.

Abstract

Both tocotrienol and statins are suppressors of the mevalonate pathway. Supplementation of tocotrienol among statin users could potentially protect them against osteoporosis. This study aimed to compare the effects of tocotrienol and lovastatin co-supplementation with individual treatments on bone dynamic histomorphometric indices and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) gene expression in ovariectomized rats. Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized equally into six groups. The baseline was sacrificed upon receipt. All other groups were ovariectomized, except for the sham group. The ovariectomized groups were administered orally daily with (1) lovastatin 11 mg/kg/day alone; (2) tocotrienol derived from annatto bean (annatto tocotrienol) 60 mg/kg/day alone; (3) lovastatin 11 mg/kg/day, and annatto tocotrienol 60 mg/kg/day. The sham and ovariectomized control groups were treated with equal volume of vehicle. After eight weeks of treatment, the rats were sacrificed. Their bones were harvested for bone dynamic histomorphometry and BMP-2 gene expression. Rats supplemented with annatto tocotrienol and lovastatin concurrently demonstrated significantly lower single-labeled surface, but increased double-labeled surface, mineralizing surface, mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate compared to individual treatments (p < 0.05). There was a parallel increase in BMP-2 gene expression in the rats receiving combined treatment (p < 0.05). The combination of annatto tocotrienol and lovastatin exerted either additively or synergistically on selected bone parameters. In conclusion, tocotrienol can augment the bone formation and mineralization in rats receiving low-dose statins. Supplementation of tocotrienol in statin users can potentially protect them from osteoporosis.

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How antioxidants aid in healthy living

Antioxidants are everywhere. Energy drinks, skin treatments, vitamin supplements, and cold remedies, and all extol the virtues of their special combination of health giving ingredients. To better understand antioxidants we have to start with oxidation, the chemical process of one substance “stealing” an electron from another and changing, or destroying it. You don’t have to understand the chemistry to get the picture. Graphic examples are all around us. When iron is oxidized, it becomes rust. The same process is seen when a slice of potato or avocado is left in the open air. Oxidation changes the intrinsic nature of the substance.

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The effects of co-administration of pregabalin and vitamin E on neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation in male rats.

Meymandi MS, Sepehri G, Abdolsamadi M, Shaabani M, Heravi G, Yazdanpanah O, Aghtaei MM.

Inflammopharmacology. 2017 Feb 23. doi: 10.1007/s10787-017-0325-4. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of pregabalin co-administration with vitamin E in Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation (PSNL)-induced neuropathic pain in rats.

METHODS:

Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated as control, sham, and PSNL groups (n = 8). PSNL was induced by tight ligation of the sciatic nerve with a copper wire. On day 14th, the PSNL and sham operated rats received either pregabalin (1, 3, and 30 mg/kg), vitamin E (100 and 200 mg/kg), or their combination intraperitoneally. An antinociceptive effect was evaluated as latency times and Maximum possible Effect Percent (%MPE) using tail-flick test. Locomotor activity was evaluated by open-field test before PSNL surgery and then twice at the 14th days (before and after drug injection). Ligated nerves were removed on the 28th days after surgery for histological examinations.

RESULTS:

The time course of latency times and %MPE showed significant decrease in PSNL but not in sham and control groups. Pregabalin (3 and 30 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 and 200 mg/kg) caused significant increases in latency time in PSNL (but not sham) group compared to control group. Vitamin E 200 mg/kg increased significantly %MPE in PSNL group compared to sham group. In addition, the %MPE following combination treatment of pregabalin (30 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg) was significantly higher than both vitamin E and control group. Also combination of pregabalin with 100 mg/kg of vitamin E reversed Wallerian degeneration of sciatic nerve and the inflammatory responses to almost similar to sham group. Pregabalin and vitamin E did not affect locomotor activity.

CONCLUSION:

Our results showed antinociceptive effects of both vitamin E and pregabalin alone or in combination in PSNL rats and also neuroprotective properties without affecting locomotor activity.

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Magazine profiles the benefits of exotic palm oil

Although not well known in the United States, palm oil has been the oil of choice in many part of the world for centuries. Interest in this natural oil, as well as other exotic oils such as coconut and avocado, is rising, due in part to their health benefits. Reporter Laura Cassiday profiled red palm oil in the February 2017 edition of Inform Magazine. In the article, she shared red palm oil’s health benefits and reviewed how the minimally processed oil is produced. The Malaysian palm oil industry has developed and patented a low-temperature refining process that produces a high quality and nutrient-rich oil.

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