Abstract
Recent studies have found conflicting evidence on the role of α-tocopherol (αTF) on bone health. This nonsystematic review aimed to summarize the current evidence on the effects of αTF on bone health from cell culture, animal, and human studies in order to clarify the role of αTF on bone health. Our review found that αTF exerted beneficial, harmful or null effects on bone formation cells. Animal studies generally showed positive effects of αTF supplementation on bone in various models of osteoporosis. However, high-dose αTF was possibly detrimental to bone in normal animals. Human studies mostly demonstrated a positive relationship between αTF, as assessed using high performance liquid chromatography and/or dietary questionnaire, and bone health, as assessed using bone mineral density and/or fracture incidence. Three possible reasons high dosage of αTF can be detrimental to bone include its interference with Vitamin K function on bone, the blocking of the entry of other Vitamin E isomers beneficial to bone, and the role of αTF as a prooxidant. However, these adverse effects have not been shown in human studies. In conclusion, αTF may have a dual role in bone health, whereby in the appropriate doses it is beneficial but in high doses it may be harmful to bone.
Highlights
Our skeletal system is tightly regulated by a multitude of internal and external factors, which govern bone formation and resorption
Our skeletal system is responsive to nutrients and supplements. α-TF, which possesses antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects, can be beneficial to bone health in appropriate doses
The effects were prominent in stress models, such as in osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency, nicotine and hindlimb-unloading
Summary
Our skeletal system is tightly regulated by a multitude of internal and external factors, which govern bone formation and resorption. Osteoporosis represents a classic example of this regulation gone astray, where bone resorption occurs at a higher rate than bone formation. This results in fragile bone due to degenerative changes in the microarchitecture of bone tissue and a reduction in bone mass [1]. Common risk factors for osteoporosis are low peak bone mass, low body weight, the use of certain medications (glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants, lithium, etc.), low Vitamin D and calcium intake, endocrine disorders (hypogonadism, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, etc.), prolonged immobility, cigarette smoking, alcoholism and systemic inflammation [6,7]
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