Effects of tocopherols and tocotrienols on body composition and bone calcium content in adrenalectomized rats replaced with dexamethasone.
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.
Ima-Nirwana
S
S
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. imasoel@medic.ukm.my
Suhaniza
S
S
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024508:Tocotrienols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D010938:Plant Oils; D024508:Tocotrienols; D000073878:Palm Oil; D003907:Dexamethasone; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols; D002118:Calcium