Palm Tocotrienol Supplementation Enhanced Bone Formation in Oestrogen-Deficient Rats

Abstract

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the commonest cause of osteoporosis. It is associated with increased free radical activity induced by the oestrogen-deficient state. Therefore, supplementation with palm-oil-derived tocotrienols, a potent antioxidant, should be able to prevent this bone loss. Our earlier studies have shown that tocotrienol was able to prevent and even reverse osteoporosis due to various factors, including oestrogen deficiency. In this study we compared the effects of supplementation with palm tocotrienol mixture or calcium on bone biomarkers and bone formation rate in ovariectomised (oestrogen-deficient) female rats. Our results showed that palm tocotrienols significantly increased bone formation in oestrogen-deficient rats, seen by increased double-labeled surface (dLS/Bs), reduced single-labeled surface (sLS/BS), increased mineralizing surface (MS/BS), increased mineral apposition rate (MAR), and an overall increase in bone formation rate (BFR/BS). These effects were not seen in the group supplemented with calcium. However, no significant changes were seen in the serum levels of the bone biomarkers, osteocalcin, and cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen, CTX. In conclusion, palm tocotrienol is more effective than calcium in preventing oestrogen-deficient bone loss. Further studies are needed to determine the potential of tocotrienol as an antiosteoporotic agent.

Tocotrienol supplementation in postmenopausal osteoporosis: evidence from a laboratory study

“…The results of the structural histomorphometric analysis suggest that tocotrienols prevent bone resorption by reducing the trabecular perforation that typically occurs during estrogen deficiency. We also reported that palm tocotrienols significantly improved bone dynamic parameters in estrogen-deficient rats by increasing the mineralizing surface, the mineral apposition rate and the bone formation rate (17). The effects of tocotrienol on dynamic parameters indicate that this form of vitamin E has anabolic properties that result in increased bone formation.…”

The Effects of Annatto Tocotrienol on Bone Biomechanical Strength and Bone Calcium Content in an Animal Model of Osteoporosis Due to Testosterone Deficiency

“…Chin et al demonstrated that annatto tocotrienol at 60 mg/kg for eight weeks specifically increased the expression of bone formation genes coding for alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I alpha 1, osteopontin and beta-catenin in orchidectomized rats [29]. In an osteopenic model due to estrogen deficiency, palm tocotrienol at 60 mg/kg for two months increased the mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate in rats [40,41]. Gamma-tocotrienol and palm tocotrienol-rich fraction at 60 mg/kg for two months was able to exert similar actions in a bone loss model due to nicotine in male rats [42].…”

Effects of annatto-derived tocotrienol supplementation on osteoporosis induced by testosterone deficiency in rats

“…Many studies had been performed previously using γTT-predominant palm-derived tocotrienol mixtures containing 20%–30% αTF to investigate the antiosteoporotic effects of tocotrienol 10. The majority of these studies found that palm-derived tocotrienols at 60 mg/kg body weight were effective in preventing degenerative changes in structural, dynamic, cellular and static indices of bone in osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency,12–14 nicotine,16 and free radicals 15. In a study using normal rats, isomers of tocotrienol were found to have anabolic effects on bone as evaluated by biomechanical strength testing and histomorphometric evaluation 23.…”