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Vitamins and plant ingredients

Acute effects of a single dose of tocotrienols on insulinemic and inflammatory responses in metabolic syndrome subjects after a high-fat challenge

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 107–114 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

Evidence shows that tocotrienols potentially reverse various chronic disease progressions caused by the metabolic syndrome. We aimed to investigate the acute effects of a single-dose supplementation of gamma and delta tocotrienols (γδ-T3, 1:4 ratio) compared with those in placebo on the insulinemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic responses in metabolic syndrome subjects.

Subjects/methods:

Thirty metabolic syndrome subjects (15 men and 15 women) were recruited to a randomized, double-blinded and crossover study. The subjects were administered a single dose of 200 mg or 400 mg γδ-T3 emulsions or placebo incorporated into a glass of strawberry-flavored milkshake, consumed together with a high-fat muffin. Blood samples were collected at 0, 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min after meal intake.

Results:

Plasma vitamin E levels reflected the absorption of γδ-T3 after treatments. Postprandial changes in serum C-peptide, serum insulin, plasma glucose, triacylglycerol, non-esterified fatty acid and adiponectin did not differ between treatments, with women displaying delayed increase in the aforementioned markers. No significant difference between treatments was observed for plasma cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) and thrombogenic markers (plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 and D-dimer).

Conclusions:

Supplementation of a single dose of γδ-T3 did not change the insulinemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombogenic responses in metabolic syndrome subjects.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for the funding. We also thank Davos Life Sciences for supplying the tocotrienol compounds.

Author contributions

H-LC conducted the study, enrolled the subjects, contributed to data collection, analysis and interpretation and wrote the manuscript. K-TT designed the study, wrote the research proposal, supervised and conducted the study, performed randomization and assignation of subjects to treatments, contributed to data analysis and interpretation, reviewed and edited the manuscript and has the full access to the study protocol. MSK reviewed and edited the manuscript. RL conducted the study, contributed to data collection, reviewed and edited the manuscript. KHY contributed to the method development of the study and reviewed the manuscript. ATBT, KRS and KN reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Product Development and Advisory Services, Nutrition Unit, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Kajang, Malaysia

    H-L Che, R Loganathan, K R Selvaduray, K Nesaretnam & K-T Teng

  2. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Malaya Centre for Proteomics Research (UMCPR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    H-L Che & M S Kanthimathi

  3. School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Science Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia

    K H Yuen

  4. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    A T B Tan

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  1. H-L Che
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Correspondence to K-T Teng.

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Che, HL., Kanthimathi, M., Loganathan, R. et al. Acute effects of a single dose of tocotrienols on insulinemic and inflammatory responses in metabolic syndrome subjects after a high-fat challenge. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 107–114 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.200

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