Monthly Archives: September 2020

Effects of vitamin E in a glucocorticoid induced cataract model in chicken embryo

A Vurmaz, A Ertekin, M Cem Sabaner, E Atay, E Bozkurt, A Bilir

Biotech Histochem . 2020 Sep 22;1-8. doi: 10.1080/10520295.2020.1818284. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

We investigated the antioxidant effects of vitamin E on a glucocorticoid (GC) induced model of cataracts in chick embryos. We used 70 fertilized eggs divided into seven groups as follows: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group, olive oil treatment (OO) group, hydrocortisone treatment (HC) group, olive oil and hydrocortisone treatment (OO + HC) group, 50 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (50)) group, 25 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (25)) group and 15 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (15)) group. On day 17, chick embryos were removed from the eggs and lens and liver tissues were excised. Cataract formation was evaluated and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in lens and liver tissues; MDA was measured only in liver. The lenses in the HC + VE (50) group exhibited significantly higher levels of GPx and TAS, and lower levels of TOS than for HC and OO + HC groups. The livers of the HC + VE (50) group exhibited significantly higher levels of GPx and lower levels of MDA than for the HC and OO + HC groups. The HC + VE (50) group lenses were evaluated as grade 1, because the nuclei were completely free of cataracts, likely due to the antioxidative effect of high dose VE. VE is an effective antioxidant agent that exhibits a dose-response effect, for ameliorating the negative effects of GCs.

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Vitamin E Deficiency Tied to Abnormal Nervous System Development in Model Organism

In research that could have key ramifications for women of childbearing age, the findings of a study by Oregon State University scientists have shown that embryos produced by vitamin E-deficient zebrafish have malformed brains and nervous systems. “This is totally amazing—the brain is absolutely physically distorted by not having enough vitamin E,” said research lead Maret Traber, PhD, a professor in the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences, and the Ava Helen Pauling Professor at Oregon State’s Linus Pauling Institute. Traber, and colleagues have published their findings in Scientific Reports, in a paper titled, “Vitamin E is necessary for zebrafish nervous system development.”

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Eczema treatment: Natural vitamin to help ease painful rash-like symptoms

Eczema is a long-term condition that causes the skin to become dry, itchy, red and cracked, according to the national health body. There are a variety of creams and treatments on the market all claiming to be the holy grail in helping to combat rash-like symptoms. According to studies, vitamin E could be the answer in helping to temporarily ease this painful skin condition.

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Vitamin E needed for proper nervous system development

In research with key ramifications for women of childbearing age, findings by Oregon State University scientists show that embryos produced by vitamin E-deficient zebrafish have malformed brains and nervous systems.

“This is totally amazing — the brain is absolutely physically distorted by not having enough vitamin E,” said Maret Traber, a professor in the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences.

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A Mechanical Mechanism for Vitamin E Acetate in E-cigarette/Vaping-Associated Lung Injury

Mitchell DiPasquale, Omotayo Gbadamosi, Michael H L Nguyen, Stuart R Castillo, Brett W Rickeard, Elizabeth G Kelley, Michihiro Nagao, Drew Marquardt

Chem Res Toxicol . 2020 Sep 21;33(9):2432-2440. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00212. Epub 2020 Sep 4.

Abstract

The outbreak of electronic-cigarette/vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) has made thousands ill. This lung injury has been attributed to a physical interaction between toxicants from the vaping solution and the pulmonary surfactant. In particular, studies have implicated vitamin E acetate as a potential instigator of EVALI. Pulmonary surfactant is vital to proper respiration through the mechanical processes of adsorption and interface stability to achieve and maintain low surface tension at the air-liquid interface. Using neutron spin echo spectroscopy, we investigate the impact of vitamin E acetate on the mechanical properties of two lipid-only pulmonary surfactant mimics: pure 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and a more comprehensive lipid mixture. It was found that increasing vitamin E acetate concentration nonlinearly increased membrane fluidity and area compressibility to a plateau. Softer membranes would promote adsorption to the air-liquid interface during inspiration as well as collapse from the interface during expiration. These findings indicate the potential for the failure of the pulmonary surfactant upon expiration, attributed to monolayer collapse. This collapse could contribute to the observed EVALI signs and symptoms, including shortness of breath and pneumonitis.

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Comparison of the Effect of Ceratonia siliqua L. (Carob) Syrup and Vitamin E on Sperm Parameters, Oxidative Stress Index, and Sex Hormones in Infertile Men: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Mir Mohammad Reza Aghajani, Soleiman Mahjoub, Faraz Mojab, Mahshid Namdari, Neda Mahdinezhad Gorji, Afsaneh Dashtaki, Parvaneh Mirabi

Reprod Sci . 2020 Sep 21. doi: 10.1007/s43032-020-00314-3. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Herbal products with an antioxidant capacity can boost male reproductive functions. The empiric use of Ceratonia siliqua (carob) for its antioxidant properties is common among infertile men in Iran and Turkey. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of C. siliqua (carob) on semen parameters, oxidative stress markers, and pregnancy rate in a parallel randomized, controlled study. A total of 60 infertile men with oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, and teratospermia were recruited from April 2018 to March 2019. Participants were divided randomly into the following two groups: carob syrup twice a day or vitamin E 100 mg twice a day for 3 months. Semen analysis was performed and hormonal levels and stress oxidative markers were measured in each treatment arm after 3 months. The quality of semen parameters improved in the carob group compared with Vit E semen count (p = 0.04 Cohen’s d = .51), morphology (p = 0.001 Cohen’s d = .93) and motility parameters (p = 0.002 Cohen’s d = .90) were significantly higher in the carob group. No significant difference can be detected in post-treatment hormonal parameters and oxidative markers between groups, except for total antioxidant capacity(TAC) which was higher after post-treatment in carob group. A significantly higher pregnancy rate was found among the carob group. The administration of carob may be an effective agent for the improvement of semen parameters, probably related both to its involvement in the changing of testosterone level and to its antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, additional studies to evaluate the optimal dose and duration of treatment are needed.

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Dietary Vitamin E Intake Was Inversely Associated with Hyperuricemia in US Adults: NHANES 2009-2014

Lixia Zhang, Xiaoyan Shi, Jinran Yu, Peipei Zhang, Ping Ma, Yongye Sun

Ann Nutr Metab . 2020 Sep 21;1-7. doi: 10.1159/000509628. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Introduction: Current evidence on the association between dietary vitamin E intake and hyperuricemia risk is limited and conflicting.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the association of dietary vitamin E intake with hyperuricemia in US adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2014. Dietary vitamin E intake was evaluated through two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were used to examine the association between dietary vitamin E intake and hyperuricemia.

Results: Overall, 12,869 participants were included. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 19.35%. After adjustment for age, gender, BMI, race, educational level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, total daily energy intake, total cholesterol, protein intake, glomerular filtration rate, serum Cr, use of uric acid drugs, and drug abuse, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of hyperuricemia for the highest tertile of dietary vitamin E intake was 0.77 (0.63-0.96) compared with that of the lowest tertile. In men, dietary vitamin E intake and hyperuricemia were negatively correlated. In stratified analyses by age (20-39, 40-59, and ≥60 years), dietary vitamin E intake was inversely associated with hyperuricemia only among participants aged ≥60 years. Dose-response analyses showed that dietary vitamin E intake was inversely associated with hyperuricemia in a nonlinear manner.

Conclusion: Dietary vitamin E intake was negatively correlated with hyperuricemia in US adults, especially among males and participants aged ≥60 years.

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Vitamin E is necessary for zebrafish nervous system development

Brian Head, Jane La Du, Robyn L Tanguay, Chrissa Kioussi, Maret G Traber

Sci Rep . 2020 Sep 21;10(1):15028. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71760-x.

Abstract

Vitamin E (VitE) deficiency results in embryonic lethality. Knockdown of the gene ttpa encoding for the VitE regulatory protein [α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP)] in zebrafish embryos causes death within 24 h post-fertilization (hpf). To test the hypothesis that VitE, not just α-TTP, is necessary for nervous system development, adult 5D strain zebrafish, fed either VitE sufficient (E+) or deficient (E-) diets, were spawned to obtain E+ and E- embryos, which were subjected to RNA in situ hybridization and RT-qPCR. Ttpa was expressed ubiquitously in embryos up to 12 hpf. Early gastrulation (6 hpf) assessed by goosecoid expression was unaffected by VitE status. By 24 hpf, embryos expressed ttpa in brain ventricle borders, which showed abnormal closure in E- embryos. They also displayed disrupted patterns of paired box 2a (pax2a) and SRY-box transcription factor 10 (sox10) expression in the midbrain-hindbrain boundary, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. In E- embryos, the collagen sheath notochord markers (col2a1a and col9a2) appeared bent. Severe developmental errors in E- embryos were characterized by improper nervous system patterning of the usually carefully programmed transcriptional signals. Histological analysis also showed developmental defects in the formation of the fore-, mid- and hindbrain and somites of E- embryos at 24 hpf. Ttpa expression profile was not altered by the VitE status demonstrating that VitE itself, and not ttpa, is required for development of the brain and peripheral nervous system in this vertebrate embryo model.

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Interaction between and impact of IL-6 genotype and alpha-tocopherol levels on periodontal condition in aging individuals

Akihiro Yoshihara, Noboru Kaneko, Akane Miyamoto, Kaname Nohno

J Periodontal Res . 2020 Sep 20. doi: 10.1111/jre.12802. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Few studies have assessed the possible interaction between and impact of IL-6 variants and serum α-tocopherol levels on periodontal condition in older individuals. Here, we assessed the relationship between IL-6 variants and serum α-tocopherol levels on periodontal condition by considering effect modification.

Material and methods: Among the study participants, 359 who were 71 years of age underwent a dental examination, biochemical analysis, and interview. After dividing the participants into tertiles based on serum α-tocopherol levels, we conducted Poisson regression analysis to compare the prevalence rate ratio (PRR) for periodontal disease markers with the IL-6 genotype (rs1800796) based on each tertile adjusted by the number of teeth present (offset).

Results: The PRRs of the IL-6 genotype for periodontal condition (probing pocket depth [PPD], clinical attachment level [CAL], and bleeding on probing [BOP]) which were adjusted by the number of teeth present (offset) were 1.17 (P < .001), 1.37 (P < .001), and 1.08 (P = .048), respectively. In addition, a significant association was found between the reciprocal number of PRRs of the IL-6 genotype and three serum α-tocopherol levels. The adjusted PRRs (± standard error) of the IL-6 genotypes for PPD were 0.48 (0.12) for the first group (P < .001), 1.54 (0.04) for the second group (P < .001), and 2.11 (0.03) for the third group (P < .001); similar tendencies were seen for CAL and BOP.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest a potential association between the IL-6 genotype and periodontal condition in relation to serum antioxidant concentrations.

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