title: The effects of palm vitamin E on stress hormone levels and gastric lesions in stress-induced rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the effects of palm vitamin E (PVE) or α-tocopherol (α-TF) supplementation on adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), corticosterone and gastric lesions in rats exposed to water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were divided into three groups. Group I: 20 rats as a control group were given a normal diet. Group II: 20 rats received oral supplementation of PVE at 60 mg/kg body weight. Group III: 20 rats received oral supplementation of α-TF at 60 mg/kg body weight. After the treatment period of 28 days, each group was further subdivided into two groups: 10 rats not exposed to stress, and the other 10 rats subjected to WIRS for 3.5 h. Blood samples were taken to measure the ACTH and corticosterone levels. The rats were then sacrificed and the stomach excised and opened along the greater curvature and examined for lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats exposed to WIRS had lesions in their stomach mucosa. Our findings showed that dietary supplementation of PVE or α-TF was able to reduce gastric lesions significantly in comparison to the stressed controls. The WIRS increased plasma ACTH and corticosterone significantly. Palm vitamin E and α-TF treatments reduced these parameters significantly compared to the stressed controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with either PVE or α-TF reduces the formation of gastric lesions, probably by inhibiting the elevation of ACTH and corticosterone levels induced by stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Abdel
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Aziz Ibrahim
authors.forename: Yusof
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamisah
authors.forename: Mohd Ismail
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nafeeza
authors.forename: Mohd Fahami
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Nur Azlina