Effect of Palm Tocotrienols versus Alpha-Tocopherol on Lymphocyte's Proliferation in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

In this study, the effect of palm oil based vitamin E was evaluated on lymphocyte`s proliferation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were supplemented with alphatocopherol (AT) and/or mixed-tocotrienols (TT) at two dosages 6 and 12mg/kg for 8 weeks. Treated rats were sacrificed and their spleens isolated for lymphocyte proliferation assay in response to two mitogens namely lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Our results indicated that in the resting state, the lymphocytes of untreated diabetic rats had a marked increase in cell proliferation compared with the treated rats; however, upon stimulation with PHA or LPS, the untreated diabetic lymphocytes failed to respond. Lymphocytes from animals treated with AT (12 mg/kg) alone and the combination of two supplements (AT and TT for 6 mg/kg) showed a significant proliferation when challenged with mitogens where the particular supplementations ameliorate lymphocyte impairment by reconstituting the cellular proliferation in diabetic rats. This study suggested that the supplementation of AT alone at higher concentration or combination with TT even at lower doses can restore the lymphocyte proliferation which is an important phase in immune cell responses.