EFFECTS OF PALM OLEIN TOCOPHEROL AND TOCOTRIENOL ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION, LIPID PROFILES AND GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN NON-INSULIN DIABETES-MELLITUS PATIENTS

Refined palm oil, palm olein contains very low amount of vitamin-E (0. 01%, w/w) as compared to its tocotrienol-rich extract, Palmvitee, whic h contains about 20 % (w/w) of vitamin E. The effects of palm olein in take on serum lipid peroxides or malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, lipid p rofiles and glycemic control of 32 non-insulin dependent diabetes mell itus patients were compared to those of Palmvitee using a double-blind study. Patients took six 300 mg capsules of Palmvitee or palm olein d aily for 60 days, underwent a washout period of 60 days, crossed-over in treatments and continued for another 60 days. Subjects who consumed Palmvitee showed significant increase in tocopherol and tocotrienol(p = 0.004 and p = 0.02 respectively), while subjects who consumed palm olein showed increase only in tocopherol levels (p = 0.04). MDA levels on day 60 in patients given palm olein were inversely correlated with tocopherol levels (r = -0.644, p = 0.007). MDA (mean +/- SEM) decline d significantly (p < 0.001) following palm olein or Palmvitee intake, 1.33 +/- 0.1 versus 1.07 +/- 0.07 and 1.47 +/- 0.09 versus 1.13 +/- 0. 06 nmol/l respectively. The decline continued to be significant (p < 0 .001) during the washout period, then showed no further change thereaf ter. Neither palm olein nor Palmvitee hcaused significant changes in t otal cholesterol, HDL-chol, triglyceride, LDL-chol and glycemic contro l of the patients. This study showed that the small amount of vitamin E present in palm olein, was sufficient to significantly reduce lipid peroxidation and that increased intake of the vitamin, as in Palmvitee , did not cause further reduction in the peroxide levels. Copyright (C ) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.