Palm vitamin E is comparable to alpha-tocopherol in maintaining bone mineral density in ovariectomised female rats

Vitamin E has been shown to affect bone metabolism. In this study we determ ined the effects of palm vitamin E and alpha-tocopherol on bone metabolism. Sprague-Dawley female rats fed with normal rat chow were divided into 4 gr oups and supplemented with either palm vitamin E 30 mg/kg rat weight, palm vitamin E 60 mg/kg rat weight or alpha-tocopherol 30 mg/kg rat weight. One group was not supplemented. Half of these rats were ovariectomised before s upplementation was given for 10 months. As expected, bone mineral density o f the ovariectomised rats fed on normal rat chow diet was lower compared to the intact rats. However, these changes were not seen in the supplemented group of rats. Both intact and ovariectomised rats supplemented with palm v itamin E 30 mg/kg rat weight had a lower bone calcium content in both femor al and vertebral bones whilst rats fed palm vitamin E 60 mg/kg rat weight o r alpha-tocopherol 30 mg/kg rat weight were able to maintain bone calcium c ontent. Alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated in ovariectomised rats s upplemented with palm vitamin E 30 mg/kg rat weight and alpha-tocopherol 30 mg/kg rat weight compared to the intact rats. Alpha-tocopherol also reduce d the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase post-ovariectomy. The se findings indicate that both palm vitamin E and alpha-tocopherol maintain ed bone mineral density in ovariectomised rats but caused conflicting effec ts on bone calcium content. Further study is needed in order to determine t he mechanisms involved.