Alpha-tocopherol distribution in lipoproteins and anti-inflammatory effects differ between CHD-patients and healthy subjects.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dose-dependent effects of RRR-alpha-tocopherol supplementation in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and healthy subjects on plasma alpha-tocopherol levels, plasma lipoprotein distribution, LDL oxidation, and inflammatory plasma markers.

METHODS:

12 patients with coronary heart disease and 12 healthy subjects were supplemented with increasing dosages of RRR-alpha-tocopherol at 100, 200 and 400 mg/day for a period of 3 weeks per dose. Lipoproteins were separated by FPLC and ultracentrifugation. Alpha-tocopherol was measured by HPLC. Resistance of LDL to oxidation was determined by reading the absorption at 234 nm after CuCl2-induced oxidation. Clinical chemistry and inflammatory markers were measured on automated analysis systems.

RESULTS:

Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations at baseline were comparable between CHD-patients and healthy subjects (21.7 +/- 4.7 micromol/L and 25.8 +/- 7.6 micromol/L, respectively). CHD-patients showed a significant increase (59%) of plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations to 34.6 +/- 9.8 micromol/L at a dosage of 100 mg/day RRR-alpha-tocopherol, whereas healthy subjects showed a significant (54%) increase to 39.7 +/- 6.1 micromol/L only with 400 mg/day RRR-alpha-tocopherol. In addition, CHD-patients showed a significantly increased enrichment of alpha-tocopherol in VLDL. Supplementation (200 mg/day) caused a significant decrease of the acute phase plasma proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) (-65%) and fibrinogen (-24%).

CONCLUSION:

Our data demonstrate that CHD-patients require lower dosages of alpha-tocopherol supplementation than healthy subjects to exert biological effects on plasma lipoproteins and acute phase response.

• Authors: Alexander Leichtle, Daniel Teupser, Joachim Thiery
• Journal: Journal of the American College of Nutrition (J Am Coll Nutr) Vol. 25 Issue 5 Pg. 420-8 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 0731-5724 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17031012 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Lipoproteins
• Lipoproteins, LDL
• Lipoproteins, VLDL
• Fibrinogen
• C-Reactive Protein
• alpha-Tocopherol

Topics

• Acute-Phase Reaction
• Antioxidants (administration & dosage, analysis)
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (blood)
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Chromatography, Liquid
• Dietary Supplements
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Fibrinogen (analysis)
• Humans
• Lipoproteins (chemistry, metabolism)
• Lipoproteins, LDL (chemistry, metabolism)
• Lipoproteins, VLDL (chemistry, metabolism)
• Male
• Oxidation-Reduction
• Stereoisomerism
• alpha-Tocopherol (administration & dosage, analysis)