Monthly Archives: November 2021

Contents and isomers distribution of vitamin E in human mature breast milk from six regions of China in 2018-2019

Zeru Lou, Ke Wu, Yizi Xu, Xiaokun Cai, Fang Tian, Yingyi Mao, Yanrong Zhao, Meiqin Cai

Wei Sheng Yan Jiu . 2021 Nov;50(6):914-918. doi: 10.19813/j.cnki.weishengyanjiu.2021.06.007.

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the contents and isomer composition of vitamin E in mature milk in different regions of China.

Methods: Simultaneously recruited 604 lactating mothers aged(29.58±3.43) from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Chengdu, Lanzhou and Changchun cities. They were mainly primiparas with good education background. A total number of 604 mature milk samples was collected. The contents of α-, γ-, δ-tocopherols and the stereoisomers of α-tocopherol were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).

Results: The M(P25, P75) concentrations of α-tocopherol, RRR-α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol in Chinese mature milk were 3.16(2.29, 4.16)mg/L, 2.57(1.77, 3.48)mg/L, 0.89(0.58, 1.27)mg/L and 0.17(0.09, 0.27)mg/L, respectively. The total α-TE level was 3.09(2.22, 4.10)mg/L with statistically regional differences(P<0.001). RRR-α-tocopherol was the predominated stereoisomers of α-tocopherol, accounting for 83.17%(76.36%, 88.43%). The proportion of RRR in Tianjin mature milk was significantly lower than that in Lanzhou(77.11% vs. 86.16%, P<0.001) while breast milk samples from other regions had similar RRR-α-tocopherol proportions(82.82%-85.39%).

Conclusion: Vitamin E content in mature milk was mainly composed of α-tocopherol. Even though the contents of tocopherols have large regional differences, RRR-α-tocopherol was predominated form in all breast milk samples. It is suggested that RRR-α-tocopherol was the main active form of vitamin E in the early stage of life.

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Interweaving epilepsy and neurodegeneration: Vitamin E as a treatment approach

Aman B Upaganlawar, Nitu L Wankhede, Mayur B Kale, Mohit D Umare, Aayush Sehgal, Sukhbir Singh, Saurabh Bhatia, Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Agnieszka Najda, Renata Nurzyńska-Wierdak, Simona Bungau, Tapan Behl

Biomed Pharmacother . 2021 Nov;143:112146. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112146. Epub 2021 Sep 8.

Abstract

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide. The condition can be manifested either due to genetic predisposition or acquired from acute insult which leads to alteration of cellular and molecular mechanisms. Evaluating the latest and the current knowledge in regard to the mechanisms underlying molecular and cellular alteration, hyperexcitability is a consequence of an imbalanced state wherein enhance excitatory glutamatergic and reduced inhibitory GABAergic signaling is considered to be accountable for seizures associated damage. However, neurodegeneration contributing to epileptogenesis has become increasingly appreciated. The components at the helm of neurodegenerative alterations during epileptogenesis include GABAergic neuronal and receptor changes, neuroinflammation, alteration in axonal transport, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and other cellular as well as functional changes. Targeting neurodegeneration with vitamin E as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective may prove to be one of the therapeutic approaches useful in managing epilepsy. In this review, we discuss and converse about the seizure-induced episodes as a link for the development of neurodegenerative and pathological consequences of epilepsy. We also put forth a summary of the potential intervention with vitamin E therapy in the management of epilepsy.

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Determination of tissue-specific interaction between vitamin C and vitamin E in vivo using senescence marker protein-30 knockout mice as a vitamin C synthesis deficiency model

Ayami Sato, Yuka Takino, Tomohiro Yano, Koji Fukui, Akihito Ishigami

SaveEmailSend to Display options full text links full text provider logo actions Cite Favorites share page navigation Title & authors Abstract Related information LinkOut - more resources Br J Nutr . 2021 Nov 2;1-33. doi: 10.1017/S0007114521004384. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Vitamin E (α-tocopherol; VE) is known to be regenerated from VE radicals by vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid; VC) in vitro. However, their in vivo interaction in various tissues is still unclear. Therefore, we alternatively examined the in vivo interaction of VC and VE by measurement of their concentrations in various tissues of senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) knockout (KO) mice as a VC synthesis deficiency model. Male SMP30-KO mice were divided into four groups (VC+/VE+, VC+/VE-, VC-/VE+, and VC-/VE-), fed diets with or without 500 mg/kg VE and given water with or without 1.5 g/L VC ad libitum. Then, VC and VE concentrations in the plasma and various tissues were determined. Further, gene expression levels of transporters associated with VC and VE, such as α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) and sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCTs), were examined. These results showed that the VE levels in the VC-depleted (VC-/VE+) group were significantly lower than those in the VC+/VE+ group in the liver and heart; the VC levels in the VE-depleted (VC+/VE-) group were significantly lower than those in the VC+/VE+ group in the kidneys. The α-TTP gene expression in the liver and kidneys were decreased by VC and/or VE depletion. Moreover, SVCT1 gene expression in the liver was decreased by both VC and VE depletion. In conclusion, these results indicate that VC spares VE mainly in the liver and heart, and that VE spares VC in the kidneys of SMP30-KO mice. Thus, interaction between VC and VE is likely to be tissue specific.

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Stress-activated leukocyte 12/15-lipoxygenase metabolite enhances struggle behaviour and tocotrienols relieve stress-induced behaviour alteration

Mototada Shichiri, Noriko Ishida, Yoshinori Aoki, Taisuke Koike, Yoshihisa Hagihara

Free Radic Biol Med . 2021 Nov 1;175:171-183. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.08.236. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Abstract

Stress induces emotional arousal causing anxiety, irritability, exaggerated startle behaviour, and hypervigilance observed in patients with trauma and stress-related mental disorders, including acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Central norepinephrine release promotes stress-induced emotional arousal. However, the regulator of emotional arousal remains unknown. Here, we show that the arachidonate-derived metabolite produced by stress-activated leukocyte 12/15-lipoxygenase is remarkably elevated in the plasma and upregulates the central norepinephrine release, resulting in the enhancement of the struggle behaviour (= escape behaviour) in the tail suspension test. Struggle behaviour is mimicking a symptom of emotional arousal. This stress-induced struggle behaviour was absent in 12/15-lipoxygenase deficient mice; however, intravenous administration of a 12/15-lipoxygenase metabolite to these mice after stress exposure rekindled the struggle behaviour. Furthermore, tocotrienols and geranylgeraniol reduced stress-induced 12/15-lipoxygenase metabolite production and suppressed the struggle behaviour. Our findings indicate that arachidonate-derived 12/15-lipoxygenase metabolite is involved in the regulation of stress-enhanced central norepinephrine release and struggle behaviour. In addition, we propose 12/15-lipoxygenase as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of emotional arousal observed in stress-related mental disorders.

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Reflections on a century of vitamin E research: Looking at the past with an eye on the future

Angelo Azzi

Free Radic Biol Med . 2021 Nov 1;175:155-160. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.07.042. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Abstract

The name vitamin E, was given by Barnett and Sure who suggested that the factor proposed by Evans and Bishop as substance “X,” be termed vitamin “E” as the next vitamin after the A, B, C and D vitamins had been already described. The identification of vitamin E with a-tocopherol was made in 1936 by Evans’ group. One year later β-tocopherol and 11 years later δ-tocopherol were isolated. Tocotrienol (named zetatocopherol) was first described in 1957 and later isolated in 1961. The antioxidant property of tocopherols was reported by Olcott and Emerson in 1937. Inherited vitamin E deficiency, AVED, characterized by a form of neuromyopathy was first described in 1981. The disease, was localized to chromosome 8q and found to be caused by a mutation of the a-TTP gene. The subsequent paragraphs are not a comprehensive review but only critical reflections on some important aspects of vitamin E research.

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Diverse cytoprotective actions of vitamin E isoforms- role as peroxyl radical scavengers and complementary functions with selenoproteins

Yoshiro Saito

Free Radic Biol Med . 2021 Nov 1;175:121-129. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.08.234. Epub 2021 Sep 2.

Abstract

Vitamin E, a generic term for tocopherol (T) and tocotrienol (T3), is one of the most potent lipid-soluble antioxidants in the body. It is classified into T and T3 based on the difference in the side chain structure. T and T3 have four isoforms: α-, β-, γ-, and δ, which have different chroman rings. Both T and T3 exhibit a similar ability to scavenge free radicals, and the extent of this ability depends on the difference in the chroman structure. However, they display unique cytoprotective activities in cultured cells depending on the difference in the side chain structure. The cytoprotective effects of vitamin E have received much attention in the prevention of ferroptosis, which is a distinct form of cell death involving iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. This review focuses on the cytoprotective actions of vitamin E isoforms against oxidative stress, particularly the difference between T and T3 and its relation to cellular uptake and distribution. Moreover, the molecular mechanism for cytoprotection of vitamin E oxidation products is explained, and the complementary role of vitamin E and selenoproteins to prevent lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis is described. Furthermore, the evaluation of vitamin E’s radical scavenging activity in vivo using oxidative stress markers is discussed, particularly based on kinetic data and the physiological molar ratio of vitamin E to substrates, and the limited role of vitamin E as a peroxyl radical scavenger is described. The future directions and unresolved issues related to vitamin E and lipid peroxidation are also discussed.

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