Effect of 12-week tocotrienol supplementation on postmenopausal women with low bone mass: a serum metabolomics profile
Chwan Li Shen FASEB 2017
Osteoporosis is a major health problem in postmenopausal women. This study evaluated the effects of 12-week tocotrienol (TT) supplementation on serum metabolites in postmenopausal osteopenic women.
Eighty nine participants (59.7±6.8 yr, BMI 28.7±5.7 kg/m2) were assigned to 3 treatments: placebo (860 mg olive oil/day), TT300 (300 mg TT/day), and TT600 (600 mg TT/day) for 12 weeks. TT consisted of 90% d-TT and 10% g-TT. After 12 weeks, 2 participants dropped out (3% attrition rate, one from placebo and one from TT600) due to non-compliance. Pill compliance rates for placebo, TT300, and TT600 were 93%, 92%, and 91%, respectively. In this serum metabolomics study, we only evaluated the placebo and TT600 at baseline and 12 weeks. At baseline, there were no differences in any demographic parameters, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), and oxidative stress biomarker (8-OHdG) between the placebo and TT600 groups. At 12 weeks, the TT600 group had significantly lower 8-OHdG than the placebo group, whereas no differences in any CMP parameters were observed. Metabolomics analysis of serum samples revealed that 48 biochemicals were higher and 65 biochemicals were lower in the TT600 group at 12 weeks, compared to baseline at 0 week. The results confirmed higher tocotrienols as expected, lower catabolites of tryptophan, and several changes in lysophospholipids and acylcarnitines in subjects given TT600.
The results showed that 12-week TT supplementation modulated serum metabolite profiles in postmenopausal, osteopenic women, a response potentially linked to reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.