Mechanisms
Vitamin E tocotrienol supplementation lowered CETP activity and improved lipids in chronic hemodialysis patients (Vasc Health Risk Manag 2013)
Original title: Vitamin E tocotrienol supplementation improves lipid profiles in chronic hemodialysis patients
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 81 chronic hemodialysis patients, researchers tested whether a vitamin E tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF, 180 mg tocotrienols plus 40 mg tocopherols daily) improves lipid, inflammatory, and oxidative markers compared with placebo. TRF supplementation did not significantly change inflammatory or oxidative status biomarkers, but improved lipid profiles: plasma triacylglycerols fell by 33 mg/dL (P=0.032) at 12 weeks and 36 mg/dL (P=0.072) at 16 weeks versus baseline, with no significant change in placebo, and HDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the TRF group than placebo at both time points (P<0.05). These lipid improvements were associated with higher plasma apolipoprotein A1 (P<0.02) and lower cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity (P<0.001) in the TRF group. The authors conclude TRF supplementation improved lipid profiles in hemodialysis patients and call for a multi-centered trial to confirm the findings.
Original abstract
Purpose: Chronic hemodialysis patients experience accelerated atherosclerosis contributed to by dyslipidemia, inflammation, and an impaired antioxidant system. Vitamin E tocotrienols possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the impact of dietary intervention with Vitamin E tocotrienols is unknown in this population.
Patients And Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial was conducted in 81 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Subjects were provided daily with capsules containing either vitamin E tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) (180 mg tocotrienols, 40 mg tocopherols) or placebo (0.48 mg tocotrienols, 0.88 mg tocopherols). Endpoints included measurements of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin 6), oxidative status (total antioxidant power and malondialdehyde), lipid profiles (plasma total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), as well as cholesteryl-ester transfer protein activity and apolipoprotein A1.
Results: TRF supplementation did not impact any nutritional, inflammatory, or oxidative status biomarkers over time when compared with the baseline within the group (one-way repeated measures analysis of variance) or when compared with the placebo group at a particular time point (independent t-test). However, the TRF supplemented group showed improvement in lipid profiles after 12 and 16 weeks of intervention when compared with placebo at the respective time points. Normalized plasma triacylglycerols (cf baseline) in the TRF group were reduced by 33 mg/dL (P=0.032) and 36 mg/dL (P=0.072) after 12 and 16 weeks of intervention but no significant improvement was seen in the placebo group. Similarly, normalized plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher (P<0.05) in the TRF group as compared with placebo at both week 12 and week 16. The changes in the TRF group at week 12 and week 16 were associated with higher plasma apolipoprotein A1 concentration (P<0.02) and lower cholesteryl-ester transfer protein activity (P<0.001).
Conclusion: TRF supplementation improved lipid profiles in this study of maintenance hemodialysis patients. A multi-centered trial is warranted to confirm these observations.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.