title: Short term effects of palm-tocotrienol and palm-carotenes on vascular function and cardiovascular disease risk: A randomised controlled trial.
abstract: In vitro, ex vivo and animal studies suggest palm-based tocotrienols and carotenes enhance vascular function, but limited data in humans exists. The aim was to examine the effects of palm-tocotrienols (TRF- 80) and palm-carotene (CC-60) supplementation on vascular function and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in adults at increased risk of impaired vascular function.
  
  
  
  Ninety men and women (18-70 yr, 20-45 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and/or elevated waist circumference were randomised to consume either TRF-80 (420 mg/day tocotrienol + 132 mg/day tocopherol), CC-60 (21 mg/day carotenes) or placebo (palm olein) supplements for 8 weeks. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), other physiological and circulatory markers of vascular function, lipid profiles, glucose, insulin and inflammatory markers were assessed pre- and post-supplementation. Pairwise comparisons were performed using mixed effects longitudinal models (n = 87, n = 3 withdrew before study commencement).
  
  
  
  Plasma α- and β-carotene and α-, δ- and γ-tocotrienol concentrations increased in CC-60 and TRF-80 groups, respectively, compared to placebo (mean ± SE difference in total plasma carotene change between CC-60 and placebo: 1.5 ± 0.13 μg/ml, p < 0.0001; total plasma tocotrienol change between TRF-80 and placebo: 0.36 ± 0.05 μg/ml, p < 0.0001). Neither FMD (treatment x time effect for CC-60 vs. placebo, p = 0.71; TRF-80 vs. placebo, p = 0.80) nor any other vascular function and CVD outcomes were affected by treatments.
  
  
  
  CC-60 and TRF-80 supplementation increased bioavailability of palm-based carotenes and tocotrienols but had no effects, superior or detrimental, on vascular function or CVD risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: welma.stonehouse@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Welma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stonehouse
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Grant D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Brinkworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Campbell H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Mahinda Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Abeywardena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001916:Brachial Artery; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000073878:Palm Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012307:Risk Factors; D024508:Tocotrienols / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D024508:Tocotrienols; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D000073878:Palm Oil
keywords: Flow-mediated dilation; Palm carotenes; Palm tocotrienols; Vascular function