Vitamin E is a strong anti-oxidative stress agent that affects the bone remodeling process. This study evaluates the effect of mixed-tocopherol supplements on bone remodeling in postmenopausal osteopenic women. A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial study was designed to measure the effect of mixed-tocopherol on the bone turnover marker after 12 weeks of supplementation. All 52 osteopenic postmenopausal women were enrolled and allocated into two groups. The intervention group received mixed-tocopherol 400 IU/day, while the control group received placebo tablets. Fifty-two participants completed 12 weeks of follow-up. Under an intention-to-treat analysis, vitamin E produced a significant difference in the mean bone resorption marker (serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX)) compared with the placebo group (−0.003 ± 0.09 and 0.121 ± 0.15, respectively (p < 0.001)). In the placebo group, the CTX had increased by 35.3% at 12 weeks of supplementation versus baseline (p < 0.001), while, in the vitamin E group, there was no significant change of bone resorption marker (p < 0.898). In conclusion, vitamin E (mixed-tocopherol) supplementation in postmenopausal osteopenic women may have a preventive effect on bone loss through anti-resorptive activity.

Context: In controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles, 15% of oocytes have been proven to be immature. Key factors include failure in signal transmission from the cumulus cell to the oocyte, insufficient level of luteinizing hormone, and internal conditions of the oocyte itself. Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the in vitro maturity of partially cumulus-denuded immature oocytes collected after controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Settings and Design: This was a prospective, randomized controlled design at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, university hospital. Subjects and Methods: Infertile women underwent gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist stimulated protocol for IVF with final maturation triggered by hCG, partially cumulus-denuded immature human oocytes were allocated to two groups: the first was treated with fertilization medium and the second was treated with fertilization medium and hCG. They were cultured for 24 h. Outcomes measured were the oocyte maturation rates to metaphase II (MII) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity of in vitro maturation (IVM) mature oocytes which represent the oocyte quality. Statistical Analysis Used: The Mann–Whitney U-test and One-way ANOVA were used to compare continuous variables, and Chi-square was used for categorical data. Results: In all, 250 immature stimulated oocytes were allocated (125 per group). The maturation rate was higher in the hCG supplement group (48% vs. 39.2%) without significance. The positive brilliant cresyl blue results among the MII oocytes developed from the metaphase I (MI) were significantly higher in the hCG group ( P = 0.001). Conclusions: Rescue IVM in fertilization culture medium plus hCG was slightly better than that in the only fertilization culture. MII oocytes developed from MI in hCG supplemented medium had a higher quality based on the measured G6PD activity.

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