The palm oil industry is regularly confronted by misinformation which is then absorbed by the media and churned into a frenzy of inaccurate news articles and opinion pieces, designed ostensibly to inform and educate, but achieving neither objective. Unfortunately, ever so often, such misinformed frenzy is unsupported by facts. The recent hype on Nutella and the quoted cancer health concerns about palm oil is a classic case in point.
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Metabolic Syndrome Latest: How To Get The Vitamin E You Need
Some people could need more vitamin E than others, including those suffering from a condition linked to obesity. A new study from researchers at Oregon State University has found that people with metabolic syndrome may require drastically higher amounts of vitamin E.
Metabolic syndrome is classified by a set of ailments that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and obesity, Medical Daily previously reported. According to the International Diabetes Federation, about a quarter of the world’s adults have this syndrome.
Natural Source Vitamin E Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 – 2024
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — This market research study analyzes the natural source vitamin E market on global basis and provides estimates in terms of revenue (USD Million) from 2015 to 2024. It describes the market dynamics affecting the industry and estimates their impact during forecast period. Moreover, it highlights the opportunities for the growth of the market in the next eight years.
Inhibitory effects of γ- and δ-tocopherols on estrogen-stimulated breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.
Bak MJ, Das Gupta S, Wahler J, Lee HJ, Li X, Lee MJ, Yang CS, Suh N.
Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2017 Jan 17. pii: canprevres.0223.2016. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0223. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
Estrogens have been implicated as complete carcinogens for breast and other tissues through mechanisms involving increased cell proliferation, oxidative stress and DNA damage. Because of their potent antioxidant activity and other effects, tocopherols have been shown to exert anti-tumor activities in various cancers. However, limited information is available on the effect of different forms of tocopherols in estrogen-mediated breast cancer. To address this, we examined the effects of α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols as well as a natural γ-tocopherol rich mixture of tocopherols, γ-TmT, on estrogen-stimulated MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo. For the in vivo studies, MCF-7 cells were injected into the mammary fat pad of immunodeficient mice previously implanted with estrogen pellets. Mice were then administered diets containing 0.2% α-, γ-, δ-tocopherol or γ-TmT for 5 weeks. Treatment with α-, γ-, δ-tocopherols and γ-TmT reduced tumor volumes by 29% (p<0.05), 45% (p<0.05), 41% (p<0.05) and 58% (p<0.01), as well as tumor weights by 20%, 37% (p<0.05), 39% (p<0.05) and 52% (p<0.05), respectively. γ- and δ-Tocopherols and γ-TmT inhibited the expression of cell proliferation-related genes such as cyclin D1 and c-Myc, and estrogen-related genes such as TFF/pS2, cathepsin D and progesterone receptor in estrogen-stimulated MCF-7 cells in vitro. Further, γ- and δ-tocopherols decreased the levels of estrogen-induced oxidative stress and nitrosative stress markers, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and nitrotyrosine, as well as the DNA damage marker, γ-H2AX. Our results suggest that γ- and δ-tocopherols and the γ-tocopherol rich mixture are effective natural agents for the prevention and treatment of estrogen-mediated breast cancer.
Vitamin C & E supplements may protect against age-related brain declines: Study
Supplements of vitamin C and E may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, according to data from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging.
Data collected over the period 1991-2002 for 5,269 people aged over 65 indicated that users of vitamin C and/or E supplements had a 23% reduced risk cognitive impairment, not dementia (CIND), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), or all-cause dementia.
“This study supports a protective role of vitamin E and C supplements in the risk for AD and all-cause dementia. In addition, these supplements may contribute to a reduced risk of CIND,” wrote researchers from the Center of Excellence for the Aging of Québec and the Center for Health Social Services of Chicoutimi in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy .
Millions of people with metabolic syndrome may need more vitamin E
New research has shown that people with metabolic syndrome need significantly more vitamin E – which could be a serious public health concern, in light of the millions of people who have this condition that’s often related to obesity. A study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also made it clear that conventional tests to measure vitamin E levels in the blood may have limited accuracy compared to tests made in research laboratories, to the point that conventional tests can actually mask an underlying problem.
Antioxidants Market Expected to Reach 103.3 Thousand Tons by 2020
Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the global antioxidants market in its latest report titled “Antioxidants Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2014 – 2020”. The global antioxidants market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.3% in terms of volume during the forecast period due to various factors, regarding which FMI offers fundamental insights in detail in this report.
Synthesis, characterization, and in-vitro antitumor activity of the polyethylene glycol (350 and 1000) succinate derivatives of the tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers of Vitamin E.
Abu-Fayyad A, Nazzal S.
Int J Pharm. 2017 Jan 16;519(1-2):145-156. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.01.020. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
Vitamin E refers to a group of saturated tocopherol (T) isomers and the biologically more active unsaturated tocotrienol (T3) isomers. PEGylated α-tocopherol, commercially known as Vitamin E TPGS, has been used as an emulsifier and therapeutic agent for children with vitamin E deficiency. Limited information, however, is available about the PEG conjugates of the tocotrienol isomers of vitamin E. The current work was therefore undertaken to synthesize and characterize the water soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG 350 and 1000) derivatives of T and T3. Yield and the identity of the synthesized products were confirmed by 1H NMR, mass spectroscopy, HPLC, and thermal analysis. The self-assembly of the PEGylated vitamin E isomers in water at critical micelle concentrations (CMC) was further confirmed by size, zeta, and Cryo-TEM image analysis. While stable at pH 7.4, PEG conjugates were found to rapidly hydrolyze at pH 1.2. Our data showed that PEGylated T3 isomers were significantly more active as inhibitors for P-glycoprotein than PEGylated T. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the conjugates was also tested against a large panel of normal and tumorigenic cells. Of the conjugates, γ-T3PGS 1000 and δ-T3PGS 1000 were found to have the least toxicity against non-tumorigenic breast and pancreatic cell lines, which may be advantageous for its use as functional excipients in drug delivery. The results from the current work have demonstrated the feasibility of synthesizing PEGylated conjugates of vitamin E isomers and highlighted the potential use of these conjugates in drug delivery as functional and safer excipients especially for γ-T3PGS 1000 and δ-T3PGS 1000 conjugate.
Vitamin E and caloric restriction promote hepatic homeostasis through expression of connexin 26, N-cad, E-cad and cholesterol metabolism genes.
Santolim LV, Amaral ME, Fachi JL, Mendes MF, Oliveira CA.
J Nutr Biochem. 2017 Jan;39:86-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.09.011. Epub 2016 Oct 11.
Abstract
Connexins (Cx) and cadherins are responsible for cell homeostasis. The Cx activity is directly related to cholesterol. The present work investigates whether vitamin E, with or without caloric restriction (CR), alters the mRNA expression of Cx26, Cx32, Cx43, N-cadherins (N-cads), E-cadherins (E-cads) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and evaluates their relation to cholesterol metabolism in rat liver. Animals were divided into different groups: control with ad libitum diet (C), control+vitamin E (CV), aloric restriction with intake to 60% of group C (CR), and the intake of group CR+vitamin E (RV). There were increases of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and glutathione S-transferase mu 1, indicating antioxidant effects of CR and vitamin E. An increase of nitric oxide in the CR group was in agreement with the Mn-SOD data. Supplementation with vitamin E, with or without CR, upregulated the expression of Cx26 mRNA and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the CV group. Reductions of Cx32 and Cx43 were associated with lower LDL-c. Increases in Hmgcr and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) in the CV and RV groups could be explained by the effect of vitamin E. A reduction of LDLr in the CR group was due to the reduced dietary intake. Increases in cadherins in the CV, CR and RV groups were indicative of tissue maintenance, which was also supported by increases of α-SMA in groups CV and RV. Finally, vitamin E, with or without CR, increased Cx26, probably modulated by expression of the Hmgcr and LDLr genes. This suggests important relationship of Cxs and cholesterol metabolism genes.
Topical tocopherol for treatment of reticular oral lichen planus: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study.
Bacci C, Vanzo V, Frigo AC, Stellini E, Sbricoli L, Valente M.
Oral Dis. 2017 Jan;23(1):62-68. doi: 10.1111/odi.12573. Epub 2016 Sep 15.
Abstract
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study assessed the efficacy of topical tocopherol acetate compared with placebo in easing oral discomfort in patients with reticular oral lichen planus (ROLP). Thirty-four patients with clinically diagnosed and histologically confirmed ROLP were randomly assigned to two groups, which received first one of two treatments (treatment 1 or 2) for a month, then the other (treatment 2 or 1) for another month, with a two-week washout between them. One treatment contained tocopherol acetate and the other only liquid paraffin. The primary outcome was less discomfort, measured on a visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were as follows: length of striae measured and photographed at each follow-up; surface area of lesions; and a modified Thongprasom score. No statistically significant differences emerged between the two treatments (1 vs 2) in terms of VAS scores (P > 0.05; 0.8624) or length of striae (P = 0.0883). Significant differences were seen for surface area of lesions (P < 0.05, P = 0.0045) and modified Thongprasom scores (P = 0.0052). The two treatments differed only in terms of the surface area of the lesions and Thongprasom scores, not in VAS scores for discomfort or the length of patients’ striae. Topical tocopherol proved effective in the treatment of ROLP.