Nasal mucosa healing after endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis of elderly patients: role of topic alpha-tocopherol acetate.

Testa D, Marcuccio G, Panin G, Bianco A, Tafuri D, Thyrion FZ, Nunziata M, Piombino P, Guerra G, Motta G.

Aging Clin Exp Res. 2016 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in European country ranges in elderly patients from 4.5 to 12% of population and has a significant effect on quality of life. In these patients, rhinosinusitis is linked to immune functions changes with age and to mucosal paraphysiological alterations such as crusting formations with atrophic epithelium, variations of nasal airflow and modifications of the mucociliary clearance. Failure of medical treatments leads to surgery in patients with persistent symptoms and radiographic signs of CRS. The choice of appropriate post-surgical topic treatments is important for healing time and for preventing mucosal complications such as synechiae, crusting formation and atrophy with secondary bacterial and fungal infections. The aim of this study is to definite the effects of topic alpha-tocopherol acetate administration on nasal mucosa healing after endoscopic sinus surgery in CRS of elderly patients. In this study were included 32 patients, mean age 68.6, who underwent FESS because affected by CRS not responsive to medical treatments. After surgical treatment, we distinguish two groups basing on local nasal therapy. In our research, we observed that alpha-tocopherol acetate has no contraindications and side effects. In conclusion, our study showed the effectiveness of alpha-tocopherol acetate topic treatment in elderly patients affected by CRS after FESS, in improving and speeding up the process of restoring the sinonasal mucosa, compared to another topic medication.

Debbabi M, Nury T, Zarrouk A, Mekahli N, Bezine M, Sghaier R, Grégoire S, Martine L, Durand P, Camus E, Vejux A, Jabrane A, Bretillon L, Prost M, Moreau T, Ammou SB, Hammami M, Lizard G.

Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Nov 25;17(12). pii: E1973.

Abstract

Lipid peroxidation products, such as 7-ketocholesterol (7KC), may be increased in the body fluids and tissues of patients with neurodegenerative diseases and trigger microglial dysfunction involved in neurodegeneration. It is therefore important to identify synthetic and natural molecules able to impair the toxic effects of 7KC. We determined the impact of 7KC on murine microglial BV-2 cells, especially its ability to trigger mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunction, and evaluated the protective effects of α- and γ-tocopherol, Trolox, and oleic acid (OA). Multiple complementary chemical assays, flow cytometric and biochemical methods were used to evaluate the antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of these molecules. According to various complementary assays to estimate antioxidant activity, only α-, and γ-tocopherol, and Trolox had antioxidant properties. However, only α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and OA were able to impair 7KC-induced loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, which is associated with increased permeability to propidium iodide, an indicator of cell death. In addition, α-and γ-tocopherol, and OA were able to prevent the decrease in Abcd3 protein levels, which allows the measurement of peroxisomal mass, and in mRNA levels of Abcd1 and Abcd2, which encode for two transporters involved in peroxisomal β-oxidation. Thus, 7KC-induced side effects are associated with mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunction which can be inversed by natural compounds, thus supporting the hypothesis that the composition of the diet can act on the function of organelles involved in neurodegenerative diseases.

Hemilä H.

Br J Nutr. 2016 Nov;116(9):1530-1536.

Abstract

Analyses in nutritional epidemiology usually assume a uniform effect of a nutrient. Previously, four subgroups of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study of Finnish male smokers aged 50-69 years were identified in which vitamin E supplementation either significantly increased or decreased the risk of pneumonia. The purpose of this present study was to quantify the level of true heterogeneity in the effect of vitamin E on pneumonia incidence using the I 2 statistic. The I 2 value estimates the percentage of total variation across studies that is explained by true differences in the treatment effect rather than by chance, with a range from 0 to 100 %. The I 2 statistic for the effect of vitamin E supplementation on pneumonia risk for five subgroups of the ATBC population was 89 % (95 % CI 78, 95 %), indicating that essentially all heterogeneity was true variation in vitamin E effect instead of chance variation. The I 2 statistic for heterogeneity in vitamin E effects on pneumonia risk was 92 % (95 % CI 80, 97 %) for three other ATBC subgroups defined by smoking level and leisure-time exercise level. Vitamin E decreased pneumonia risk by 69 % among participants who had the least exposure to smoking and exercised during leisure time (7·6 % of the ATBC participants), and vitamin E increased pneumonia risk by 68 % among those who had the highest exposure to smoking and did not exercise (22 % of the ATBC participants). These findings refute there being a uniform effect of vitamin E supplementation on the risk of pneumonia.

Wang L, Xu X, Su G, Shi B, Shan A.

J Dairy Res. 2016 Nov 11:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a high concentration of vitamin E supplementation in sow diet during the last week of gestation and lactation on the performance, milk composition, and vital immunological variables and antioxidative parameters in sows and piglets. The experiment started on day 107 of gestation and lasted until the piglets were weaned on day 21 of lactation. 48 sows were divided into two groups and fed either a basal diet with 44 IU/kg of vitamin E or a basal diet supplemented with additional vitamin E, total content of 250 IU/kg. Sow milk and blood samples were obtained on day 0 (farrowing) and on day 21 of lactation. One 21-day-old piglet per litter was selected to collect plasma. Results showed that supplementation of the maternal diet with 250 IU/kg vitamin E improved the average daily gain (ADG) and weaning weight of piglets (P < 0·05), and the concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in sow plasma, colostrum and milk. The concentrations of fat in the colostrum and milk were significantly increased by supplementation with 250 IU/kg of vitamin E (P < 0·05). The level of plasma IgG, IgA, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) were all higher (P < 0·05) in piglets from sows that were fed 250 IU/kg of vitamin Ethan in those from the control group. The high concentration of vitamin E supplementation to the sows enhanced the concentrations of α-tocopherol in the sow milk and plasma as well as piglet plasma (P < 0·05). In conclusion, the addition to the maternal diet of vitamin E at high concentration improved the weight of piglets at weaning, and enhanced humoral immune function and antioxidant activity in sows and piglets.

Asemi Z, Soleimani A, Shakeri H, Mazroii N, Esmaillzadeh A.

Int Urol Nephrol. 2016 Nov;48(11):1887-1895. Epub 2016 Aug 23.

Abstract

The current study was carried out to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol co-supplementation on malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS), biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients.

In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 120 patients with chronic HD were included. Patients were randomly allocated into four groups to receive: (1) 1250 mg/day omega-3 fatty acid containing 600 mg EPA and 300 mg DHA + alpha-tocopherol placebo (n = 30); (2) 400 IU/day alpha-tocopherol + omega-3 fatty acids placebo (n = 30); (3) 1250 mg omega-3 fatty acids/day + 400 IU/day alpha-tocopherol (n = 30); and (4) omega-3 fatty acids placebo + alpha-tocopherol placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks.

After 12 weeks of intervention, all three groups of alpha-tocopherol only, individual omega-3 fatty acids, and combined omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol experienced a significant improvements in MIS compared with the placebo group; however, improvements were much greater in the individual omega-3 fats (-1.4 ± 1.4) and combined omega-3 fats and alpha-tocopherol (-1.1 ± 2.3) groups compared with alpha-tocopherol group alone (-0.5 ± 1.7, P = 0.004). Furthermore, both individual and combined intervention with omega-3 fats and alpha-tocopherol led to a significant increase in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (combined group: +17.6 ± 29.3; alpha-tocopherol: +43.1 ± 36.3; omega-3 fats: +31.0 ± 40.0; and placebo: -0.5 ± 18.5 µmol/L, respectively, P < 0.001) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+64.9 ± 113.6, +53.0 ± 144.6, +57.6 ± 157.8 and -69.9 ± 215.1 mmol/L, respectively, P = 0.004) levels.

Overall, omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol co-supplementation for 12 weeks among HD patients improved MIS, plasma NO and TAC levels. Future studies with longer duration of the intervention are needed to confirm the validity of our findings. CLINICAL REGISTRATION: www.irct.ir as IRCT201410245623N28.

Kim JE, Ferruzzi MG, Campbell WW.

Nutr. 2016 Nov;146(11):2199-2205. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Abstract

Most people living in the United States underconsume vitamin E, and dietary approaches to increase the absorption of vitamin E may help individuals to meet their body’s needs. In this study, we assessed the effect of adding cooked whole egg to a raw mixed-vegetable salad on α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol absorption.

With the use of a randomized-crossover design, 16 healthy young men [mean ± SD age: 24 ± 4 y; mean ± SD body mass index (in kg/m²): 24 ± 2] consumed the same salad (all served with 3 g canola oil) with no egg [control (CON)], with 75 g cooked egg [low egg (LE)], or with 150 g cooked egg [high egg (HE)]; a 1-wk dietary washout period was included between trials. For the first 7 d of each trial, participants consumed a low-vitamin E diet to reduce plasma vitamin E concentrations. Blood was collected hourly for 10 h and the triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein fractions (TRLs) were isolated. α-Tocopherol and γ-tocopherol concentrations in TRLs were analyzed and composite areas under the curve (AUCs) were calculated.

Results showed that the consumption of cooked whole eggs is an effective way to increase the absorption of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol from a co-consumed meal that naturally contains vitamin E, such as a raw mixed-vegetable salad, in healthy young men. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01951313.

Torabi S, Yeganehjoo H, Shen CL, Mo H.

Nutr Res. 2016 Nov 3. pii: S0271-5317(16)30204-4. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2016.11.001. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

Tocotrienols accelerate the degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase that catalyzes the biosynthesis of mevalonate; the latter is essential for preadipocyte differentiation. Tocotrienols also down-regulate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation. We hypothesized that mevalonate deprivation and PPARγ down-regulation mediate d-δ-tocotrienol-induced inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of d-δ-tocotrienol on 3T3-F442A preadipocyte differentiation and the involvement of PPARγ and mevalonate. Murine 3T3-F442A preadipocytes were incubated with d-δ-tocotrienol (2.5-10 μmol/L) for 8 days. AdipoRed assay and Oil Red O staining showed that d-δ-tocotrienol dose-dependently reduced the intracellular triglyceride content. Concomitantly, d-δ-tocotrienol dose-dependently inhibited glucose uptake by 3T3-F442A cells and the expression of GLUT4, HMG CoA reductase, and p-Akt proteins. The effects of d-δ-tocotrienol on intracellular triglyceride content and glucose uptake were attenuated by rosiglitazone, an agonist of PPARγ, but not supplemental mevalonate (100 μmol/L). In contrast, mevalonate, but not rosiglitazone, reversed the effects of lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase shown to inhibit adipocyte differentiation via mevalonate deprivation. Trypan blue staining revealed no changes in cell viability after a 48-hour incubation of 3T3-F442A cells with d-δ-tocotrienol (0-80 μmol/L), suggesting that the adipogenesis-suppressive activity of d-δ-tocotrienol was independent of cytotoxicity. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the antiadipogenic effect of d-δ-tocotrienol via PPARγ down-regulation.

Grimm MO, Regner L, Mett J, Stahlmann CP, Schorr P, Nelke C, Streidenberger O, Stoetzel H, Winkler J, Zaidan SR, Thiel A, Endres K, Grimm HS, Volmer DA, Hartmann T.

Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Oct 29;17(11). pii: E1809.

Abstract

One of the characteristics of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is an increased amyloid load and an enhanced level of reactive oxidative species (ROS). Vitamin E has known beneficial neuroprotective effects, and previously, some studies suggested that vitamin E is associated with a reduced risk of AD due to its antioxidative properties. However, epidemiological studies and nutritional approaches of vitamin E treatment are controversial. Here, we investigate the effect of α-tocotrienol, which belongs to the group of vitamin E, on AD-relevant processes in neuronal cell lines. In line with the literature, α-tocotrienol reduced the ROS level in SH-SY5Y cells. In the presence of tocotrienols, cholesterol and cholesterol esters, which have been shown to be risk factors in AD, were decreased. Besides the unambiguous positive effects of tocotrienol, amyloid-β (Aβ) levels were increased accompanied by an increase in the activity of enzymes responsible for Aβ production. Proteins and gene expression of the secretases and their components remained unchanged, whereas tocotrienol accelerates enzyme activity in cell-free assays. Besides enhanced Aβ production, tocotrienolsinhibited Aβ degradation in neuro 2a (N2a)-cells. Our results might help to understand the controversial findings of vitamin E studies and demonstrate that besides the known positive neuroprotective properties, tocotrienols also have negative characteristics with respect to AD.

Meganathan P, Fu JY.

Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Oct 26;17(11). pii: E1682. Review.

Abstract

Vitamin E has been recognized as an essential vitamin since their discovery in 1922. Although the functions of tocopherols are well established, tocotrienols have been the unsung heroes of vitamin E. Due to their structural differences, tocotrienols were reported to exert distinctive properties compared to tocopherols. While most vegetable oils contain higher amount of tocopherols, tocotrienolswere found abundantly in palm oil. Nature has made palm vitamin E to contain up to 70% of total tocotrienols, among which alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols are the major constituents. Recent advancements have shown their biological properties in conferring protection against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, oxidative stress and immune regulation. Preclinical results of these physiological functions were translated into clinical trials gaining global attention. This review will discuss in detail the evidence in human studies to date in terms of efficacy, population, disease state and bioavailability. The review will serve as a platform to pave the future direction for tocotrienols in clinical settings.

Shahidi F, de Camargo AC.

Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Oct 20;17(10). pii: E1745. Review.

Abstract

Edible oils are the major natural dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as tocols. Plant foods with low lipid content usually have negligible quantities of tocols. However, seeds and other plant food processing by-products may serve as alternative sources of edible oils with considerable contents of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Tocopherols are among the most important lipid-soluble antioxidants in food as well as in human and animal tissues. Tocopherols are found in lipid-rich regions of cells (e.g., mitochondrial membranes), fat depots, and lipoproteins such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Their health benefits may also be explained by regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, and modulation of cell functions. Potential health benefits of tocols include prevention of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic ailments. Although deficiencies of tocopherol are uncommon, a continuous intake from common and novel dietary sources of tocopherols and tocotrienols is advantageous. Thus, this contribution will focus on the relevant literature on common and emerging edible oils as a source of tocols. Potential application and health effects as well as the impact of new cultivars as sources of edible oils and their processing discards are presented. Future trends and drawbacks are also briefly covered.