Tocotrienols and Bone Health of Postmenopausal Women

Summary

Osteoporosis (severe bone loss) is a bone disease with bone fragility and an increased chance for bone fractures. Women are 4 times more likely to have osteoporosis than men because there is no estrogen protection after menopause and women in general have lighter and thinner bones. Recent studies have indicated tocotrienols (one kind of vitamin E) supplement may be good for the bone health in postmenopausal women. However, no study has ever been done the role of tocotrienols in bone health in postmenopausal women. Our long-term goal is to develop a new strategy featuring a dietary supplement (i.e., tocotrienols) for slowing down bone loss in postmenopausal women. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of 12-week tocotrienols on bone measurements in postmenopausal women. Investigators plan to recruit postmenopausal women using flyers, non-solicited e-mail system, campus announcement, local radio, newspapers, and TV scripts. We plan to enroll approximately 200 women to obtain 78 qualified women at the start of the study. After screening, qualified participants will be matched by body weight and age, and then randomly assigned to no tocotrienols, low tocotrienols, or high tocotrienols group. The outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, after 6, and after 12 weeks. Bone-related measurements will be recorded using blood and urine samples. Investigators will monitor safety of subjects after 6 and after 12 weeks. Food intake, physical activity, and quality of life will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. All data will be analyzed statistically.

Timeline

Start

2014-02

Primary completion

2022-10

Completion

2022-12

Publications

• Shen CL, Wang S, Yang S, Tomison MD, Abbasi M, Hao L, Scott S, Khan MS, Romero AW, Felton CK, Mo H. A 12-week evaluation of annatto tocotrienol supplementation for postmenopausal women: safety, quality of life, body composition, physical activity, and nutrient intake. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Jun 28;18(1):198. doi: 10.1186/s12906-018-2263-0.
• Shen CL, Yang S, Tomison MD, Romero AW, Felton CK, Mo H. Tocotrienol supplementation suppressed bone resorption and oxidative stress in postmenopausal osteopenic women: a 12-week randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Osteoporos Int. 2018 Apr;29(4):881-891. doi: 10.1007/s00198-017-4356-x. Epub 2018 Jan 12.
• Shen CL, Mo H, Yang S, Wang S, Felton CK, Tomison MD, Soelaiman IN. Safety and efficacy of tocotrienol supplementation for bone health in postmenopausal women: protocol for a dose-response double-blinded placebo-controlled randomised trial. BMJ Open. 2016 Dec 23;6(12):e012572. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012572.

Drugs

Indications