Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Metabolic Properties of Tocopherols and Tocotrienols: Clinical Implications for Vitamin E Supplementation in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Di Vincenzo A, Tana C, El Hadi H, Pagano C, Vettor R, Rossato M

nt J Mol Sci. 2019 Oct 15;20(20). pii: E5101. doi: 10.3390/ijms20205101.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by the development of vascular complications associated with high morbidity and mortality and the consequent relevant costs for the public health systems. Diabetic kidney disease is one of these complications that represent the main cause of end-stage renal disease in Western countries. Hyperglycemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress contribute to its physiopathology, and several investigations have been performed to evaluate the role of antioxidant supplementation as a complementary approach for the prevention and control of diabetes and associated disturbances. Vitamin E compounds, including different types of tocopherols and tocotrienols, have been considered as a treatment to tackle major cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic subjects, but often with conflicting or even negative results. However, their effects on diabetic nephropathy are even less clear, despite several intervention studies that showed the improvement of renal parameters after supplementation in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Then we performed a review of the literature about the role of vitamin E supplementation on diabetic nephropathy, also describing the underlying antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic mechanisms to evaluate the possible use of tocopherols and tocotrienols in clinical practice.

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Bone Mineral Density in Premenopausal Women Is Associated with the Dietary Intake of α-Tocopherol: A Cross-Sectional Study

Odai T, Terauchi M, Hirose A, Kato K, Miyasaka N

Nutrients. 2019 Oct 15;11(10). pii: E2474. doi: 10.3390/nu11102474.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of various nutrients and bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged women. This cross-sectional survey was conducted based on the clinical records of 157 women aged 38-76. Their lumbar spine BMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and dietary habits were assessed with the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Participants were divided into premenopausal (n = 46) and postmenopausal (n = 111) groups and the correlation between the BMD Z-score (Z-score) and the intakes of 43 nutrients was investigated separately for each group. In premenopausal women, the daily intake of ash, calcium, and α-tocopherol was positively correlated with the Z-score (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, R = 0.31, 0.34, 0.33, p = 0.037, 0.020, 0.027, respectively). When dividing the consumption of ash, calcium, and α-tocopherol into low, middle, and high tertiles, the Z-score significantly differed only between the α-tocopherol tertiles. After adjustment for age, body mass index, and lifestyle factors, daily intake of α-tocopherol remained significantly associated with the Z-score (regression coefficient = 0.452, p = 0.022). No nutrient was found to be significantly correlated with the Z-score in postmenopausal women. Increase in the intake of α-tocopherol could help maintain bone mass in premenopausal women.

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Proteome-wide changes in primary skin keratinocytes exposed to diesel particulate extract-A role for antioxidants in skin health

Rajagopalan P, Jain AP, Nanjappa V, Patel K, Mangalaparthi KK, Babu N, Cavusoglu N, Roy N, Soeur J, Breton L, Pandey A, Gowda H, Chatterjee A, Misra N

J Dermatol Sci. 2019 Oct 15. pii: S0923-1811(19)30273-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2019.08.009.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Skin acts as a protective barrier against direct contact with pollutants but inhalation and systemic exposure have indirect effect on keratinocytes. Exposure to diesel exhaust has been linked to increased oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate global proteomic alterations in diesel particulate extract (DPE)/ its vapor exposed skin keratinocytes.

METHODS:

We employed Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based proteomics to study effect of DPE/ DPE vapor on primary skin keratinocytes.

RESULTS:

We observed an increased expression of oxidative stress response protein NRF2, upon chronic exposure of primary keratinocytes to DPE/ its vapor which includes volatile components such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics led to identification 4490 proteins of which 201 and 374 proteins were significantly dysregulated (≥1.5 fold, p ≤ 0.05) in each condition, respectively. Proteins involved in cellular processes such as cornification (cornifin A), wound healing (antileukoproteinase) and differentiation (suprabasin) were significantly downregulated in primary keratinocytes exposed to DPE/ DPE vapor. These results were corroborated in 3D skin models chronically exposed to DPE/ DPE vapor. Bioinformatics analyses indicate that DPE and its vapor affect distinct molecular processes in skin keratinocytes. Components of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation machinery were seen to be exclusively overexpressed upon chronic DPE vapor exposure. In addition, treatment with an antioxidant like vitamin E partially restores expression of proteins altered upon exposure to DPE/ DPE vapor.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study highlights distinct adverse effects of chronic exposure to DPE/ DPE vapor on skin keratinocytes and the potential role of vitamin E in alleviating adverse effects of environmental pollution.

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Vitamin E attenuates alterations in learning, memory and BDNF levels caused by perinatal ethanol exposure

Mahdinia R, Goudarzi I, Lashkarbolouki T, Salmani ME

Nutr Neurosci. 2019 Oct 14:1-15. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2019.1674523.

Abstract

Objective: Alcohol exposure during pregnancy affects the developing fetus and causes a variety of physical and neurological abnormalities. Here we aim to study the effects of vitamin E on spatial learning and memory deficits and on changes in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels following perinatal ethanol exposure in rats. Method: Pregnant Wistar rats received ethanol (4 g/kg) and vitamin E (doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) on day 0 of gestation (GD) until weaning (28 days). On postnatal days (PND) 29, the performance of spatial learning and memory of rats were measured using the Morris water maze (MWM). The expression of BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus was assayed using BDNF ELISA kits. Results: Ethanol exposed group showed higher escape latency during training, reduced time spent in the target quadrant, higher escape location latency and average proximity in probe test. Vitamin E with doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced escape latency during training. Also, vitamin E (400 mg/kg) significantly increased time spent in target quadrant, decreased escape location latency and average proximity in probe test. Maternal ethanol treatment significantly reduced the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus of offspring, whereas administration of vitamin E (400 mg/kg) significantly increased hippocampal BDNF in ethanol-treated rats. Discussion: Vitamin E administration dose-dependently ameliorate learning and memory deficits induced by perinatal ethanol exposure and increased hippocampal BDNF levels. BDNF may be implicated in the beneficial effects of vitamin E on learning and memory in the perinatal ethanol-exposed rat.

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Study of the toxic effect and safety of vitamin E supplement in male albino rats after 30 days of repeated treatment

El-Hak HNG, ELaraby EE, Hassan AK, Abbas OA

Heliyon. 2019 Oct 12;5(10):e02645. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02645

Abstract

The aim of these investigations was to study vitamin E supplement effect in male albino rats after 30 days of repeated treatment. Four groups of six male rats were orally administered distilled water (control), 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight vitamin E daily for 30 days. The impact of the treatment on percent body weight and mortality was determined and compared to the control group. Some hematological analysis, biochemical parameters and histological examination of different body organs were assessed. The rats treated with different doses of vitamin E supplement showed no deaths recorded in 30 days. The treatment with higher dose Vitamin E supplementation” caused significant alteration at the hematological, biochemical and histological level. Therefore, oral administration of vitamin E supplement in rats for 30 days was not safe for the liver and kidney and in the other hand, safe for the testes therefore that side effect on the liver and kidney should be considered when recommended vitamin E for therapeutic purpose. Care should be taken in taking high doses of vitamin E.

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There’s More Than One Type of Vitamin E — The Study of Tocotrienol and Chronic Conditions

Although research on tocotrienols is well underway, few have heard of this important, albeit elusive, member of the vitamin E family. Tocotrienols were first discovered in the late 1950s and—originally thought to be tocopherols—were mislabeled with Greek letters such as epsilon and zeta.6 The mistake was recognized,7,8 but official designations in the Merck Index were not corrected until 2001.9,10 It’s not surprising, then, that tocotrienols are only now emerging into public view, and the timing is fortuitous. According to the US Census Bureau, older adults (age 65 and older) will soon outnumber children, and with increasing age comes a heightened risk of chronic conditions. Tocotrienols may help prevent and address aging concerns through their antioxidant properties.

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Role of α-Tocopherol Acetate on Nasal Respiratory Functions: Mucociliary Clearance and Rhinomanometric Evaluations in Primary Atrophic Rhinitis

Testa D, Marcuccio G, Lombardo N, Cocuzza SG, Guerra G, Motta G

Ear Nose Throat J. 2019 Oct 2:145561319870483. doi: 10.1177/0145561319870483.

Abstract

Primary atrophic rhinitis is a disease of the nose and of paranasalsinuses characterized by a progressive loss of function of nasal and paranasal mucosa caused by a gradual destruction of ciliary mucosalepithelium with atrophy of serous-mucous glands and loss of bonestructures.The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of topic α-tochopherol acetate (vitamin E) in patients with primary atrophicrhinitis based on subjective and objective data.We analyzed 44 patients with dry nose sensation and endoscopic evidence of atrophic nasal mucosa. We analyzed endoscopic mucosascore, anterior rhinomanometry, and nasal mucociliary clearance before and after 6 months of topic treatment with α-tochopherol acetate. For statistical analysis, we used paired samples t test (95% confidence interval [CI], P < .05) for rhinomanometric and muciliary transit time evaluations and analysis of variance 1-way test (95% CI, P < .05) for endoscopic evaluation. All patients showed an improvement in “dry nose” sensation and inperception of nasal airflow. Rhinomanometric examination showed increase of nasal airflow at follow-up (P < .05); nasal mucociliaryclearance showed a reduction in mean transit time (P < .05); and endoscopic evaluation showed significative improvement of hydration of nasalmucosa and significative decreasing nasal crusts and mucusaccumulation (P < .05). Medical treatment for primary atrophic rhinitis is not clearly documented in the literature; in this research, it was demonstrated that α-ochopherol acetate could be a possible treatment for atrophic rhinitis.

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