Nutr Res Pract.  2013 Dec;7(6):481-487.

Effects of d-alpha-tocopherol supplements on lipid metabolism in a high-fat diet-fed animal model

• Kim DY
• Kim J
• Ham HJ
• Choue R

Abstract

High-fat diet up-regulates either insulin resistance or triglycerides, which is assumed to be related to the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha and PPAR-gamma. The beneficial effects of vitamin E on insulin resistance are well known; however, it is not clear if vitamin E with a high-fat diet alters the expression of PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma. We investigated the effects of d-alpha-tocopherol supplementation on insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation, and the expression of PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma in a high-fat (HF) diet-fed male C57BL/6J model of insulin resistance. The animals were given a regular diet (CON; 10% fat), a HF diet containing 45% fat, or a HF diet plus d-alpha-tocopherol (HF-E) for a period of 20 weeks. The results showed that the HF diet induced insulin resistance and altered the lipid profile, specifically the triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels (P < 0.05). In this animal model, supplementation with d-alpha-tocopherol improved insulin resistance as well as the serum levels of TG and very-low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the treatment decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and liver while increasing hepatic PPAR-alpha expression and decreasing PPAR-gamma expression. In conclusion, the oral administration of d-alpha-tocopherol with a high-fat diet had positive effects on insulin resistance, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress through the expression of PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma in a high-fat diet-fed male mice.

Keyword

High fat diet; supplementation; d-alpha-tocopherol; insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral
Animals*
Cholesterol
Diet
Diet, High-Fat
Humans
Insulin Resistance
Lipid Metabolism*
Lipid Peroxidation
Liver
Male
Malondialdehyde
Mice
Models, Animal*
Oxidative Stress
Peroxisomes
Triglycerides
Vitamin E
Vitamins
Cholesterol
Malondialdehyde
Triglycerides
Vitamin E
Vitamins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Levels of malondealdehyde in (A) serum and (B) liver. Data are means ± S.E. a-cValues with different superscript letters are significantly different at P < 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test based on analysis of variance. CON; mice fed regular diet (10% of calories derived from fat) with distilled water as a vehicle (0.1 ml, p.o.) for 20 weeks. HF; mice fed high-fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat) with distilled water as a vehicle (0.1 ml, p.o.) for 20 weeks. HF-E; mice fed high-fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat) with d-α-tocopherol as a vehicle for 20 weeks. D-α-tocopherol (100 IU/kgBW, p.o.); freshly prepared by dissolving in distilled water after triturating with Tween 20, MDA; malondialdehyde

• 

  Fig. 2 Expression of (A) PPAR-α and (B) PPAR-γ in the liver. CON; mice fed regular diet (10% of calories derived from fat) with distilled water as a vehicle (0.1 ml, p.o.) for 20 weeks. HF; mice fed high-fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat) with distilled water as a vehicle (0.1 ml, p.o.) for 20 weeks. HF-E; mice fed high-fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat) with d-α-tocopherol as a vehicle for 20 weeks. D-α-tocopherol (100 IU/kgBW, p.o.); freshly prepared by dissolving in distilled water after triturating with Tween 20. PPAR-α; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha. PPAR-γ; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorgamma

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