title: Alpha tocopherol supplementation decreases serum C-reactive protein and monocyte interleukin-6 levels in normal volunteers and type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: Type 2 diabetic subjects have an increased propensity to premature atherosclerosis. Alpha tocopherol (AT), a potent antioxidant, has several anti-atherogenic effects. There is scanty data on AT supplementation on inflammation in Type 2 diabetic subjects. The aim of the study was to test the effect of RRR-AT supplementation (1200 IU/d) on plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release from activated monocyte in Type 2 diabetic patients with and without macrovascular complications compared to matched controls. The volunteers comprised Type 2 diabetic subjects with macrovascular disease (DM2-MV, n = 23), Type 2 diabetic subjects without macrovascular complications (DM2, n = 24), and matched controls (C, n = 25). Plasma high sensitive CRP (Hs-CRP) and Monocyte IL-6 were assayed at baseline, following 3 months of supplementation and following a 2 month washout phase. DM2-MV subjects have elevated HsCRP and monocyte IL-6 compared to controls. AT supplementation significantly lowered levels of C-reactive protein and monocyte interleukin-6 in all three groups. In conclusion, AT therapy decreases inflammation in diabetic patients and controls and could be an adjunctive therapy in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Pathology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9073, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devaraj
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jialal
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014810:Vitamin E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein