title: Does palm oil vitamin E reduce the risk of pregnancy induced hypertension?
abstract: In view of the high anti-oxidative potential oftocotrienol, the role of the tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil in preventing pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) was explored in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in an urban teaching hospital. Healthy primigravidae were randomized to receive either oral TRF 100 mg daily or placebo, from early second trimester until delivery. Out of 299 women, 151 were randomized into the TRF arm and 148 into the placebo arm. A total of 15 (5.0%) developed PIH. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of PIH (4/151 or 2.6% in the TRF arm vs. 11/148 or 7.4% in the placebo arm, p = 0.058) between the two arms, there was a tendency towards a lower incidence of PIH in the TRF arm compared to the placebo arm. With TRF supplementation, the relative risk (RR) of PIH was 0.36 (95% CI 0.12-1.09). In conclusion, although TRF from palm oil does not statistically significantly reduce the risk of development of PIH in the population studied, the 64% reduction in incidence of PIH is substantial. The findings warrant further clinical trials, particularly in high risk populations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. zaleha@ppukm.ukm.edu.my
authors.forename: Zaleha Abdullah
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Mahdy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Harlina Halizah
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Siraj
authors.affiliation: Universiti Putra Malaysia, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Serdang, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Huzwah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khaza'ai
authors.affiliation: Universiti Putra Malaysia, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Serdang, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Sokhini Abdul
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mutalib
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Hatta
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Azwar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Marianah Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Zailani Hatta Md
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Dali
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rohana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Azlin Mohd
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nafisah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adeeb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015994:Incidence; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010938:Plant Oils; D014810:Vitamin E; D000073878:Palm Oil