Effects of tocopherols and tocotrienols on body composition and bone calcium content in adrenalectomized rats replaced with dexamethasone.

Abstract

Long-term glucocorticoid treatment is associated with severe side effects, such as obesity and osteoporosis. A palm oil-derived vitamin E mixture had been shown previously to be protective against osteoporosis in rats given 120 microg/kg dexamethasone daily for 12 weeks. In this study we determined the effects of two isomers of vitamin E (i.e., palm oil-derived gamma-tocotrienol and the commercially available alpha-tocopherol, 60 mg/kg of body weight/day) on body composition and bone calcium content in adrenalectomized rats replaced with two doses of dexamethasone, 120 microg/kg and 240 microg/kg daily. Treatment period was 8 weeks. gamma-Tocotrienol (60 mg/kg of body weight/day) was found to reduce body fat mass and increase the fourth lumbar vertebra bone calcium content in these rats, while alpha-tocopherol (60 mg/kg of body weight/day) was ineffective. Therefore, in conclusion, palm oil-derived gamma-tocotrienol has the potential to be utilized as a prophylactic agent in prevention of the side effects of long-term glucocorticoid use.

• Authors: S Ima-Nirwana, S Suhaniza
• Journal: Journal of medicinal food (J Med Food) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 45-51 ( 2004) ISSN: 1096-620X [Print] United States
• PMID: 15117552 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Plant Oils
• Tocotrienols
• Palm Oil
• Dexamethasone
• alpha-Tocopherol
• Tocopherols
• Calcium

Topics

• Adrenalectomy
• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Body Composition (drug effects)
• Bone Density (drug effects)
• Bone and Bones (metabolism)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Dexamethasone
• Male
• Obesity (prevention & control)
• Osteoporosis (prevention & control)
• Palm Oil
• Plant Oils
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Tocopherols (pharmacology)
• Tocotrienols (pharmacology)
• alpha-Tocopherol (pharmacology)