Abstract
Background: Tocotrienol and tocopherol are known to prevent numerous degenerative diseases. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) with α-tocopherol (α-TF) on the antioxidant status of healthy individuals aged between 50 and 55 years. Methods: Volunteers were divided into groups receiving placebo (n = 23), α-TF (n = 24) and TRF (n = 24). Fasting venous blood samples were taken at baseline (0 month), 3 months and 6 months of supplementation for the determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as well as for reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations. Results: CAT and GPx were unaffected by TRF and α-TF supplementations. SOD activity increased significantly after six months of TRF supplementation. Analysis by gender showed that only female subjects had significant increases in SOD and GPx activities after six months of TRF supplementation. GPx activity was also significantly higher in females compared to males after six months of TRF supplementation. The GSH/GSSG ratio increased significantly after six months of TRF and α-TF supplementation in only the female subjects. Conclusion: TRF and α-TF supplementation exhibited similar effects to the antioxidant levels of older adults with TRF having more significant effects in females.
Highlights
Vitamin E is a potent chain-breaking antioxidant that has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and prevent the propagation of free radical reactions
We previously reported that tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) supplementation restored the redox balance of individuals over 50 years of age after six months of supplementation [16,17]
The mean age of supplemented groups was not significantly different compared to α-TF, and TRF groups (Table 1)
Summary
Vitamin E is a potent chain-breaking antioxidant that has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and prevent the propagation of free radical reactions. There are eight naturally occurring forms of vitamin E that are distinguished by the methylation pattern on the chromanol ring. These are further divided into four isomers designated as alpha (α), beta (β), delta (δ), and gamma (γ) tocopherols and tocotrienols [1]. Tocopherols and tocotrienols have the same basic chemical structure characterized by a long chain attached at the second position of a chromanol ring. Tocotrienols differ from tocopherols because they possess a farnesyl rather than a saturated isoprenoid C16 side chain [2]. All tocopherols and tocotrienols are potent antioxidants with lipoperoxyl radical-scavenging activities [3]. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) with α-tocopherol (α-TF) on the antioxidant status of healthy individuals aged between 50 and 55 years
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