In the almost 100 years since its discovery, vitamin E has been recognized as an antioxidant. However, recent findings suggest that the compound and its metabolites have roles that go beyond metabolism, gene regulation, immunomodulation, and neuroprotection. Free Radical Biology and Medicine has published a review of emerging aspects and future directions of vitamin E research in its November 2016 issue. This information, they believe, can help guide nutritional recommendations and trials on age-related and chronic disease prevention.
Blog Archives
Metabolic syndrome increases the need for vitamin E
“The research showed that people with metabolic syndrome need about 30-50 percent more vitamin E than those who are generally healthy,” reported lead author Maret Traber of the Linus Pauling Institute. “We’ve discovered that vitamin E levels often look normal in the blood, because this micronutrient is attracted to high cholesterol and fat. So vitamin E can stay at higher levels in the circulatory system and give the illusion of adequate levels, even as tissues are deficient. This basically means that conventional vitamin E blood tests as they are now being done are useless.”
Marie Claire article links palm oil with healthy weight loss
MEDIA BUZZ: Malaysian certified sustainable palm oil is getting its fair share of mainstream media attention for its nutrition and weight-management benefits. Malaysian palm oil was highlighted in top women’s magazine Marie Claire in a weight-loss article that reached more than a million women. Olive oil wasn’t even mentioned!
Nanoencapsulation of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E acetate protects against UVB radiation-induced skin injury in mice.
Pegoraro NS, Barbieri AV, Camponogara C, Mattiazzi J, Brum ES, Marchiori MC, Oliveira SM, Cruz L.
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2017 Feb 1;150:32-40. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.11.013. Epub 2016 Nov 9.
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of producing semisolid formulations based on nanocapsule suspensions containing the association of the coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E acetate by adding gellan gum (2%) to the suspensions. Furthermore, we studied their application as an alternative for the treatment of inflammation induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. For this, an animal model of injury induced by UVB-radiation was employed. All semisolids presented pH close to 5.5, drug content above 95% and mean diameter on the nanometric range, after redispersion in water. Besides, the semisolids presented non-Newtonian flow with pseudoplastic behavior and suitable spreadability factor values. The results also showed that the semisolid containing coenzyme Q10-loaded nanocapsules with higher vitamin E acetate concentration reduced in 73±8% the UVB radiation-induced ear edema. Moreover, all formulations tested were able to reduce inflammation parameters evaluated through MPO activity and histological procedure on injured tissue and the semisolids containing the nanoencapsulated coenzyme Q10 reduced oxidative parameters assessment through the non-protein thiols levels and lipid peroxidation. This way, the semisolids based on nanocapsules may be considered a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of skin inflammation diseases.
A naturally occurring mixture of tocotrienols inhibits the growth of human prostate tumor, associated with epigenetic modifications of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27.
Huang Y, Wu R, Su ZY, Guo Y, Zheng X, Yang CS, Kong AN.
J Nutr Biochem. 2017 Feb;40:155-163. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.10.019. Epub 2016 Nov 4.
Abstract
Tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family, have three unsaturated bonds in their side chains. Recently, it has been suggested that the biological effects of tocotrienols may differ from that of tocopherols. Several in vitro studies have shown that tocotrienols have stronger anticancer effects than tocopherols. VCaP cell line used in this study is from a vertebral bone metastasis from a patient with prostate cancer. Eight-week-old male NCr(-/-) nude mice were subcutaneously injected with VCaP-luc cells in matrigel and then administered a tocotrienol mixture for 8 weeks. The tocotrienol mixture inhibited the growth of human prostate tumor xenografts in a dose-dependent manner. The concentrations of tocotrienols and their metabolites were significantly increased in treatment groups. Tocotrienols inhibited prostate tumor growth by suppressing cell proliferation, which was associated with the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21 and p27. In addition, tocotrienol treatment was associated with elevated H3K9 acetylation levels at proximal promoter regions of p21 and p27 and with decreased expression of histone deacetylases. Tocotrienols inhibited human prostate tumor growth, associated with up-regulation of the CDK inhibitors p21 and p27. Elevated expression of p21 and p27 could be partly due to the suppressed expression of HDACs.
Vitamin E and selenium — the odd couple!
Deficiencies in vitamin E and/or selenium can result in a number of issues related to normal growth as well as to the health of cattle, particularly newly weaned calves. Selenium deficiency in newborn calves can result in white muscle disease, as well as in retained placentas in newly calved cows. As selenium is a trace mineral, daily requirements are extremely low and listed as 0.1 parts per million in the 2016 Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle (NRBC) publication. While this is an extremely small requirement, it is important to remember that many areas of North America have soils that are selenium deficient and if cattle are not supplemented, deficiencies can occur.
6 Signs Of Vitamin E Deficiency; Symptoms Include Miscarriage
When a fetus isn’t getting enough vitamin E, the pregnant mother could miscarry because the deficiency prevents crucial body parts from developing, according to a study in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
Researchers recently discovered the process, which is just one of many negative side effects of not having enough vitamin E. Oregon State University said in a statement that “severe vitamin E deficiency causes the depletion of essential fatty acids,” forcing cells to rely on glucose to prevent damage. “Lacking glucose for energy, many physical and neurologic features, especially the brain, simply don’t get built, and death can be the result.”
Vitamin E deficiency linked to embryo damage, death
Researchers for the first time have explained how deficient levels of vitamin E can cause neurologic damage to an embryo, failure to normally develop and ultimately death – a process that in women can be one cause of miscarriage. The research was published by scientists from Oregon State University in Free Radical Biology and Medicine. It answers some questions about the biologic activities of vitamin E that have been debated since 1922, when this essential micronutrient was first discovered, in part for its role in preventing embryonic mortality.
Mono-epoxy-tocotrienol-α enhances wound healing in diabetic mice and stimulates in vitro angiogenesis and cell migration.
Xu C, Bentinger M, Savu O, Moshfegh A, Sunkari V, Dallner G, Swiezewska E, Catrina SB, Brismar K, Tekle M.
J Diabetes Complications. 2017 Jan;31(1):4-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2016.10.010. Epub 2016 Oct 18.
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and capillary hypoxia that causes excessive production of free radicals and impaired antioxidant defense, resulting in oxidative stress and diabetes complications such as impaired wound healing. We have previously shown that modified forms of tocotrienols possess beneficial effects on the biosynthesis of the mevalonate pathway lipids including increase in mitochondrial CoQ. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of mono-epoxy-tocotrienol-α on in vitro and in vivo wound healing models as well as its effects on mitochondrial function. Gene profiling analysis and gene expression studies on HepG2 cells and human dermal fibroblasts were performed by microarray and qPCR, respectively. In vitro wound healing using human fibroblasts was studied by scratch assay and in vitro angiogenesis using human dermal microvascular endothelial cells was studied by the tube formation assay. In vivo wound healing was performed in the diabetic db/db mouse model. For the study of mitochondrial functions and oxygen consumption rate Seahorse XF-24 was employed. In vitro, significant increase in wound closure and cell migration (p<0.05) both in normal and high glucose and in endothelial tube formation (angiogenesis) (p<0.005) were observed. Microarray profiling analysis showed a 20-fold increase of KIF26A gene expression and 11-fold decrease of lanosterol synthase expression. Expression analysis by qPCR showed significant increase of the growth factors VEGFA and PDGFB. The epoxidated compound induced a significantly higher basal and reserve mitochondrial capacity in both HDF and HepG2 cells. Additionally, in vivo wound healing in db/db mice, demonstrated a small but significant enhancement on wound healing upon local application of the compound compared to treatment with vehicle alone. Mono-epoxy-tocotrienol-α seems to possess beneficial effects on wound healing by increasing the expression of genes involved in cell growth, motility and angiogenes as well as on mitochondrial function.
Ask the Pharmacist: Health benefits of taking Vitamin E – Naples Daily News
You’ll learn how to find “natural” not synthetic brands of E, and how to avoid fake forms. You may not realize this, but almost all vitamin E brands out there contain JUST ONE isomer out of 8 natural ones. True story!
