title: Tocotrienol-rich fraction from palm oil prevents oxidative damage in diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to determine the effects of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) (200 mg/Kg) on biomarkers of oxidative stress on erythrocyte membranes and leukocyte deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male rats (n = 40) were divided randomly into four groups of 10: a normal group; a normal group with TRF; a diabetic group, and a diabetic group with TRF. Following four weeks of treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, oxidative stress markers and the antioxidant status of the erythrocytes were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FBG levels for the STZ-induced diabetic rats were significantly increased (P <0.001) when compared to the normal group and erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels were also significantly higher (P <0.0001) in this group. Decreased levels of reduced glutathione and increased levels of oxidised glutathione (P <0.001) were observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats when compared to the control group and diabetic group with TRF. The results of the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly lower in the STZ-induced diabetic rats than in the normal group (P <0.001). The levels of DNA damage, measured by the tail length and tail moment of the leukocyte, were significantly higher in STZ-induced diabetic (P <0.0001). TRF supplementation managed to normalise the level of DNA damage in diabetic rats treated with TRF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily supplementation with 200 mg/Kg of TRF for four weeks was found to reduce levels of oxidative stress markers by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing the levels of antioxidant status in a prevention trial for STZ-induced diabetic rats.
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Sabha University, Sabha, Libya;
authors: Fatmah A
authors: FA
authors: Matough
authors: Programme of Biomedical Sciences, School of Diagnostic Applied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia;
authors: Siti B
authors: SB
authors: Budin
authors: Programme of Biomedical Sciences, School of Diagnostic Applied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia;
authors: Zariyantey A
authors: ZA
authors: Hamid
authors: Department of Clinical Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia;
authors: Mariati
authors: M
authors: Abdul-Rahman
authors: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors: Nasar
authors: N
authors: Al-Wahaibi
authors: Programme of Biomedical Sciences, School of Diagnostic Applied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia;
authors: Jamaludine
authors: J
authors: Mohammed
keywords: Antioxidants; Diabetes Mellitus; Oxidative Stress; Tocotrienols